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2 MidWeek MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

62 PEOPLE HAVE SAMEWEALTH AS 3.5 BILLION

CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON

ALLIES HOLD ANTI-ISIS MEETING IN PARIS SANS CANADA

I DETAILS ON PAGE 4

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SUSHMA SWARAJ HELD A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMINNETANYAHU ON MONDAY. SHE INFORMED THE TOP LEADERSHIP INDIA ATTACHES THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE TO ITS RELATIONSWITH ISRAEL (PTI).

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!CALL ROGERS AT 1.800.929.5723 & BELL FIBE AT 1.888.748.9196

GROUP EDITOR AND CEO OF YMEDIA YUDHVIR JASWAL (3RD FROM LEFT), PRESENTING A PLAGUE TO A GUEST AT PUNJAB NIGHT HELD ATSHINGAR BANQUET HALL IN BRAMPTON RECENTLY. ALSO SEEN IN THE IMAGE ARE ASHWIN GILL (EXTREME L) AND SIMAR GILL (EXTREME R).

BY CHAITANYA MALLAPURMUMBAI - Just 62 individuals had the same wealth as 3.5 billion people- the bottom half of humanity-in 2015, according to a new report, AnEconomy For The 1%, by global advocacy Oxfam. This figure is downfrom 388 individuals as recently as 2010. The wealth of the richest 62people has risen 44 per cent in the five years since 2010, an increase of$542 billion (Rs.24,66,100 crore) to $1.76 trillion (Rs.1,07,36,000 crore),which is 86 per cent ($2.05 trillion) of India's GDP in 2014. The wealth ofthe bottom half fell by just over $1 trillion in the same period, a drop of 41per cent. This scenario is a reminder of aphorism "the rich get richer andthe poor get poorer", a commonly used socialist criticism of capitalism.The findings provide some context to the forthcoming January 20 WorldEconomic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos with the theme: Mastering TheFourth Industrial Revolution. I CONTD. ON PAGE 15

I CONTD. ON PAGE 5

CRICKET SPECIAL ON CHANNEL Y

Don't miss live discussion on India vs Australia and Pakistan vsNew Zealand matches on Channel Y available on Rogers at 857and Bell Fibe on 828. These talk shows will be held on Friday,January 22 at 10pm; Sunday, January 24 at 10pm; Tuesday, January 26 at10pm; Wednesday, January 27 at 10pm; Friday, January 29 at 10pm; Saturday,January 30 at 10pm and Sunday, January 31 at 10pm.

Badals ruined Punjab, oustthem from power: Kejriwal

MUKTSAR (PUNJAB), (IANS) Launching a fierce attack on the ruling Badalfamily in Punjab, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal onThursday urged people to oust the Badals from power, saying the onceprogressive state was on the verge of ruin. "The Badals and their family haveruined a progressive state like Punjab in 10 years. In a state which was knownto feed the country, farmers are now forced to commit suicide. Such is the state ofaffairs here," thundered Kejriwal, sporting a yellow turban, at a huge gathering ofAam Aadmi Party supporters during the Maghi Mela (fair) held here.

I CONTD. ON PAGE 8, 12

Defence Minister Sajjan says such meetings anorm, downplaying the fact Canada was sidelined

DESK REPORTOTTAWA - Though the defence ministers from the United States, Aus-tralia, Germany, Italy, France, Britain, and the Netherlands met inParis on Wednesday to formulate an anti-ISISpolicy, Canada was conspicuous by absence.According to the office of Defence MinisterHarjit Sajjan, Canada was not invited withopposition blaming Canada's decision to with-draw from combat mission in Iraq has re-sulted in expulsion from such an impor tantmeet.However, when asked from the defence min-ister, he said such meetings are held everynow and then and Canada was not sidelinedat all, as popular belief. He said there wereother oppor tunities including a NATO defenceministers meeting in February that he will beattending. Sajjan told media: "Not at all. Meet-ings happen all the time. There are a numberof other meetings that happen that you maynot be actually aware of. I have a meeting atNorad that's happening in a couple of days that's very impor tant

… and I have a couple of meetings that are going to be coming upin the next few weeks to talk about [ISIS]."It is wor th noting here that the Liberals during their election cam-

paign had said once in power they will endthe bombing missions by CF-18 but insteadaid the coalition by increasing the number oftraining personnel in Iraq. However, the coun-try is expected to keep an air-to-air tankerand two reconnaissance aircraft in the re-gion. The opposition has blamed this step ofCanada is being viewed by allies as back-tracking from the coalition fight against theterrorist outfit ISIS when other par tners arethinking to increase their military presenceto dismantle it.But Saj jan has remained resolute on hisstance adding: "I was most recently back intothe region to get a first-hand look at what'sgoing on, [and] talked to the actual com-manders on the ground, which allowed meto get a great sense and refine the contribu-

tions that we'll be making as a country to the overall fight."

India set to grow fastest in theworld at 7.5 per cent

BY ARUN KUMARWASHINGTON, (IANS) Growing at the fastest pace, India is projected togrow at 7.5 per cent in 2016 and 2017 fiscal as China slows to 6.3 per cent in2016 and 6.0 per cent in 2017, according to the IMF. The slower pace ofChina's growth primarily reflects weaker investment growth as the economycontinues to rebalance, the International Monetary Fund said in its Januaryupdate of the World Economic Outlook (WEO). India and the rest of emergingAsia are generally projected to continue growing at a robust pace, althoughwith some countries facing strong headwinds from China's economic rebalanc-ing and global manufacturing weakness. Global growth, currently estimated at 3.1per cent in 2015, is projected at 3.4 per cent in 2016 and 3.6 per cent in 2017 withgrowth in advanced economies projected to rise by 0.2 percentage point in 2016 to2.1 per cent, and hold steady in 2017. Also according to the IMF Canadian GDPgrowth in 2016 will remain at 1.7%. In 2017 it will grow by 2.1%.

Can AAP win Punjab elections in 2017?


TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016s p e c i a l r e p o r t

Recently held PUNJAB NIGHTreceived overwhelming response

BRAMPTON - Legacy Productionz founded by Ashwin Gill and Simar Gill, held Punjab Night recently atShingar Banquet Hall in Brampton. Legacy Productionz aims to generate wider public interest and engage-ment with the contemporary North Indian heritage and provide new oppor tunities to access, experience,and par ticipate in high quality ar ts in Canada.The aim of Punjab Night was to showcase the heritage and traditions of Indian and Pakistani Punjab tobring our two rich countries in culture and heritage together under one roof. Pingalwara Society foundedby Bhagat Pooran Singh ji was an impor tant par t of Punjab Night. Some proceeds were given to Pingalwarasociety at the event. Bibi Abhnash Kaur, who is looking after the operations in North America was handedover the cheque on stage. A donation booth was also set up at the venue.The show was widely covered by Channel Y as well as Midweek newspaper. It was also promoted byRawal TV, Vision TV and Asian Connection. Consulate General of Pakistan, Asghar Ali Golo was the chiefguest who graced the occasion with his benign presence.Guests were completely mesmerised by astonishing enter tainment as bhangra, live singing, danceperformances and fashion show. They enjoyed sumptuous dinner and then danced to the captivatingPunjabi dance numbers until 1 am. Kids enjoyed face painting and photo booth.It was a successful show due to the overwhelming suppor t of sponsors and presence of dignitaries,media personalities and community members. Special thanks were given to Harjeet Singh Gill for promoting the showon his radio show, Punjabi Duniya and being a media partner and event guide.Legacy Productionz, Ashwin Gill and Simar Gill also thanked CEO and Chief Editor Yudhvir Jaswal of YMEDIA for being themedia par tner of the event and vowed to keep working together in the days to come as well.

MidWeek 5MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 s p e c i a l r e p o r t

IRANIAN PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI WITH US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (PTI).

US, EU LIFT SANCTIONS UNDERHISTORIC IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

BY ARUN KUMAR

WASHINGTON, (IANS) The US and European Union lifted internationaleconomic sanctions against Iran implementing a historic deal withTehran after the UN nuclear watchdog agency confirmed it has begundismantling its nuclear programme as promised. The implementa-tion of the deal would also release about $100 billion of Iran's assetsand make it easier for India and other countries to do business withTehran. India, which had substantially reduced its oil impor ts fromIran under US pressure, can now freely impor t oil from Tehran, butwould now have to pay for it in dollars. Due to the sanctions, India hasbeen paying Iran in Indian rupees, with the money kept in an Indianaccount. India has to now release an estimated $6 billion in pendingoil payments to Iran.President Barack Obama signed an executive order lifting some ofthe US economic sanctions on Iran, the White House announced. Sec-retary of State John Kerry issued a statement confirming the Interna-

tional Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran "has fully imple-mented its required commitments. Iran has under taken significantsteps that many, and I do mean many, people doubted would evercome to pass."And that should be recognized, even though the full measure of thisachievement can only be realized by assuring continued full compli-ance in the coming years," Kerry said. With the implementation ofdeal reached last July, the US, "our friends and allies in the MiddleEast, and the entire world are safer because the threat of the nuclearweapon has been reduced", he said.In exchange for lifting sanctions, Iran must reduce its level of uraniumenrichment, dramatically reduce the size of its stockpile of enricheduranium, reduce the number of centrifuges, and agree to unfetteredinternational inspections. The implementation came hours after Iranfreed four American prisoners, including Washington Post journalistJason Rezaian, in exchange for seven Iranian prisoners. Another Ameri-can, who was not a par t of the exchange, also was released.

Relations with Israel of highestimportance for India: SushmaJERUSALEM, (IANS) India attaches the highest impor tance toits relations with Israel, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajsaid as she met Israel's top leadership, including PresidentReuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu onMonday. "India attaches the highest impor tance to full develop-ment of wide-ranging ties with Israel," she said as she metNetanyahu who is also Israel's foreign minister."Our bilateral cooperation has developed well in a number ofareas over the past two decades. But the potential of our rela-tionship is much more," Sushma Swaraj, who is on her firstvisit to West Asia as external affairs minister, said.Stating that she was looking forward to her meetings with theIsraeli leadership, she said she hoped to "discuss the entirespectrum of our bilateral relationship"."I also hope to get an assessment of the situation in the regionand explore areas where we can cooperate in addressing com-mon challenges," she said.Welcoming the Indian minister, Netanyahu said that India andIsrael were intensifying cooperation in a number of fields."In the fields of science and technology, cyber, defence andagriculture, we want to do more," he said.He said that Sushma Swaraj's visit has provided a special op-por tunity for the foreign ministries of both the countries to dis-cuss various challenges and oppor tunities.He said that though India and Israel shared very old civilisations,"we want to seize the future"."The future belongs to those who innovate. Israel and India areat the cutting edge of so many areas of innovation," the Israeliprime minister said."By working together we can do a lot more for our peoples andfor the world," he said, adding that Israel admired and viewedIndia as a great friend.Sushma Swaraj, who is being accompanied by the Secretary(East) in the external affairs ministry, Anil Wadhwa, and a num-ber of other senior officials of the ministry, then held delegationlevel talks with Netanyahu.Following this, she called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin."All in a morning's work. After meeting PM @netanyahu, EAMcalls on @PresidentRuvi of Israel at the President's House,"external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.Sushma Swaraj also held delegation level talks with Israel'sMinister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water YuvalSteinitz and Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon.Ahead of the Indian minister's visit, Israeli Ambassador to IndiaDaniel Carmon said at a media briefing in New Delhi that Israeland India would collaborate in the areas of agriculture and wa-ter management.Stating that Israel had faced the problem of water scarcity, hesaid that his country would collaborate with the Indian privatesector on this and was in close contact with India's water re-sources and Ganga rejuvenation ministry.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016c o m m u n i t y

TmaxSoft invests in MississaugaMississauga - TmaxSoft has announced to expand its services inMississauga that will create an environment for business growth.Talking on this new development, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombiehas said: "The City of Mississauga is proud to be home to TmaxSoft,a globally recognized and respected business," Mississauga MayorBonnie Crombie said. "The professional leadership from TmaxSoftchose Mississauga as the leading destination to invest, expand ser-vice offerings, develop new and innovative technologies, and to re-main ahead of the competition in the field of infrastructure software,"Mayor Crombie added. "At the City of Mississauga, we are committedto creating an environment where businesses can grow, thrive andsucceed - and TmaxSoft is proof our effor ts are working."

Over $700,000 for upgrades todrinking water treatment, supplysystem in Saint-FortunatSAINT-FORTUNAT - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructureand Communities, Pablo Rodriguez, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister ofInfrastructure and Communities, and Quebec Minister of Forests, Wildlifeand Parks and Member of the National Assembly for Huntingdon Lotbinière-Frontenac, Laurent Lessard, on behalf of Pierre Moreau, Quebec Minister ofMunicipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, has announced that the Municipal-ity of Saint-For tunat will benefit from funding of $205,344 under thefederal Gas Tax Fund and the Government of Quebec's contribution forupgrades to the drinking water treatment and supply system in Saint-For tunat. Minister Lessard also took the oppor tunity to announce

funding of $502,392 from the Que-bec Municipal Infrastructure Pro-gram, bringing the total combinedfunding amount from the federaland provincial governments forthis project to $707,736. Theproject involves upgrading thedrinking water treatment and sup-ply system in Saint-For tunat.Work includes installing a ground-water well, constructing a newservice facility with a chlorina-tion and manganese removal dis-infection system, adding pipe-lines to the new facility as wellas new supply lines, and reme-dial work to the existing drinkingwater reservoir. "The Governmentof Canada is proud to havepar tnered with Quebec to improvethe drinking water treatment andsupply system in St. Fortunat. Weare determined to build solid rela-tionships with our municipal andprovincial partners to contribute tothe development of strong commu-nities across the country and to im-prove the quality of life of all Cana-dians through investments in pub-lic infrastructure." - PabloRodriguez, Parliamentary Secre-tary to the Minister of Infrastruc-ture and Communities, on behalf ofAmarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infra-structure and Communities"I am delighted by the financial sup-port from the Government of Que-bec announced today for upgradesto the drinking water treatment andsupply system in Saint-For tunat.This investment demonstrates ourgovernment 's commitment toproviding high-quality commu-nity facilities. Thanks to this up-grade project, the Municipality ofSaint-For tunat will be able to en-sure better water management inaddition to ensuring strong, sustain-able infrastructure, a healthier envi-ronment and better public servicesfor residents of the community." -Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister ofForests, Wildlife and Parks and Mem-ber of the National Assembly forHuntingdon Lotbinière-Frontenac, onbehalf of Pierre Moreau, Quebec Min-ister of Municipal Affairs and Land.

16 GOODWILLSTORES, 10DONATION CENTRESCLOSEDDesk report- TORONTO - Goodwillhas announced that it will be closing16 stores and 10 donation centres inOntario as they have been facing cashflow problems. The move will sendthe fate of nearly 430 employees inthe doldrums. According to detailswhen the workers returned for workon Sunday evening, the doors of thesesaid outlets were c losed. TheGoodwill stores provide reliefto a large number of populationin Ontario for offering affordablesecondhand goods received asdonations and operating in theprovince for the last 80 years.Outside several stores bulk of do-nations were seen piled up over theweekend but no one knew whatwould happen to those boxes left out-side the doors of those closed stores.

BALBIR SOHI, DENTAL HYGIENIST ALONG WITH GAGAN GILL, A REGISTERED NURSE; AMAN SAGGU, DIETICIAN AND UDAY GILLON YOUR HEALTH SHOW AIRED ON CHANNEL Y EVERY MONDAY BETWEEN 8PM TO 8:30PM. CHANNEL Y CAN BE VIEWED ONROGERS 857 AND BELL FIBE 828.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 c o m m u n i t y

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PREMIER WYNNE TALKED TO REFUGEE FAMILIES, CO-SPONSORS, AND FRONT LINE WORKERS AT THE CATHOLIC CROSSCULTURAL CENTRE (PREMIERPHOTOS).

Ontario invested nearly $36million for upgrades, repairs inover 350 community agenciesONTARIO - Ontario is helping hundreds of community agenciesprovide safer and more accessible facilities for individuals,children and families.Premier Kathleen Wynne was at the Herizon House in Ajaxrecently to highlight the investment of nearly $36 million towardupgrades and repairs at more than 350 community agenciesacross Ontario. This investment includes $28 million that wasdistributed last summer and nearly $8 million that was deliveredin December.These investments will help Aboriginal healing and wellnesscentres, violence against women community agencies anddevelopmental services providers maintain and improve theirfacilities. The funding will also go towards helping children'streatment centres, children's aid societies and youth centresprovide safe and comfor table environments for the children andfamilies who rely on their services.Funding for the Par tner Facility Renewal Program was madeavailable through the Ministry of Community and Social Servicesand the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.Suppor ting community agencies that provide vital services tothose in need is par t of the government's plan to build Ontario up.The four-par t plan includes investing in people's talents andskills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure inthe province's history, creating a dynamic, supportive environ-ment where business thrives and building a secure retirement

savings plan."Creating safe, accessible and welcoming spaces for the families,friends and neighbours who rely on our community agencies isessential. Through the Par tner Facility Renewal Program, ourgovernment is helping to suppor t the critical services theseagencies provide to the most vulnerable in our society." - KathleenWynne, Premier of Ontario"Helping community agencies pay for repairs and impor tantrenovations means they can focus more on the people they serve,and less on finding the funds they need to keep their buildings safe,secure and in good repair." - Dr Helena Jaczek, Minister of Commu-nity and Social Services"This investment will help children's treatment centres, children'said societies and youth centres across Ontario maintain theirfacilities in good working order so they can continue to helpOntario's children, youth and families reach their full potential." -Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth ServicesQUICK FACTS" In December 2015, the Ministry of Community and SocialServices provided $4.2 million and the Ministry of Children andYouth Services provided $3.5 million to community agencies inorder to help them keep their facilities in good working order." Approved projects include upgrading accessible washrooms,replacing windows, repairing roofs, replacing furnaces, expandingprogram spaces and installing carbon monoxide and fire alarms.

ONTARIO TRAINING 144 NEW CORRECTIONAL OFFICERSProvince Has Hired 571 New Correctional Officers Since 2013ONTARIO - Ontario has begun training 144 new correctional officers to increase staffing levels at the province's correctional facilities,enhance program delivery and improve staff and inmate safety.These new recruits are par t of the largest class ever to enter the Ontario Correctional Services College. Recruits will complete aneight week comprehensive program, which includes mental health training, inmate management techniques and a thorough assess-ment and evaluation. Graduates who successfully complete the program will be deployed to provincial institutions across theprovince, beginning in March.Adding new correctional officers and upgrading correctional facilities across Ontario is a key par t of the province's transformation ofOntario's correctional system to increase staff and inmate safety, enhance mental health suppor ts, improve rehabilitation andreintegration programs, and break the cycle of reoffending to build safer communities."It is my pleasure to welcome these 144 new correctional officers, the largest class of recruits ever to enter the Ontario CorrectionalServices College, who will fur ther build on the 571 new correctional officers our government has hired and trained since 2013. Theyare a vital par t of the work that is underway to transform our correctional system and I want to thank them for choosing a career dedicated to public serviceand helping to keep our communities safe." - Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Feeding Wildlife Can Cause Coyotes to Become Regular GuestsMISSISSAUGA - Feeding wildlife attracts rodents and small wildlife which are coyotes' natural prey. This includes leaving tablescraps, meat, pet food, birdseed or bread left out for birds. Coyotes and other wildlife are attracted to the smell of food and will becomeregular guests if food is readily available.Before you leave a carrot for the cute bunny that comes for a visit or leave scraps for the squirrels, consider the danger it could bring.Wildlife is attracted to food and coyotes are oppor tunistic animals who will eat whatever they can find. Having a regular food sourcecould cause coyotes to become habituated and no longer fear humans.Apar t from having wildlife drop by for a visit, food left out for long periods of time such as birdseed could become laden with bacteriaand make animals ill, and human food could make wildlife sick as it isn't part of an animals' natural diet.Animals prefer to live near their food source, so if there is a free buffet then be ready to share your proper ty as a home to animals.Raccoons will try to get into your attic, skunks may burrow beneath your steps, your shed or your deck and settle in to live and raisetheir families.Tips to keep wildlife at bay:" Do not feed coyotes or other wildlife" Keep garbage/compost in a garage, shed or a durable container with a locking lid" Put garbage on your boulevard the morning of garbage collection" Remove bird feeders and seed spillage that attract rodents and their predators; provide food for songbirds for a few hours at atime" Feed pets indoors" Clean barbecue grills and tools after each use" Pick ripened fruit and clean up fallen fruitThe City of Mississauga has an animal care and control bylaw which regulates the feeding of animals, with the exemption ofsongbirds, with a maximum penalty of $5,000. Visit mypetmississauga.ca for more information on wildlife and coyotes.

PROJECT UDAAN SAVINGINDIAN GIRLS FROMVIOLENCE, EXPLOITATION

CHANGE OF NAMEI Sunandan S/o Sukhdev Raj, holder of IndianPassport No. G0089086, Permanent R/o WardNo. 4, Gali Hakim Diwan Singh, Ajnala, DistrictAmritsar, Punjab, India and Presently Residingat Apt-1809, 2645 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke,

ON, Canada, M9V3S6, have changed my namefrom Sunandan to Sunandan Sareen.

MARKHAM - OVBI Canada isorganizing a show - Meri AwazSuno - to create awarenessabout their programme that isworking hard to rescue asmany girls as possible fromthe brothels of Sonagachi,Kolkata in India. The show is being held in Markham on January 23from 5pm to 8pm at the Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre.As an organization OVBI Canada focuses on several issues like ram-pant corruption, violence towards women, suicides and water short-ages in India. It believes that every individual can make a meaningfulimpact and play a role in the betterment of India.Approximately 1.2 million children are exploited in prostitution through-out the country (UNICEF 2010 country report). Children under the ageof 18 make up to 35% of workers in the sex industry. Recent reportsestimate that this number is increasing by nearly 10% per year.Sonagachi, Kolkata, is one of the largest red light areas in Asia. It is anarea with several hundred multi-story brothels and estimated 11,000sex workers and 14,300 children. Approximately 3,400 children are inthe age group of 1 - 10 years.But barely any NGO has taken up this cause of rescuing these inno-cent girls because of the inherent problems that come from workingin these areas. They all have the resources but don't have the will toventure into this territory. The NGOs are looking for someone to showthem the way. Project Udaan is a pilot project for the Sonagachi redlight area in Kolkata, for creating a "Safe Haven" for 50 girls, wherethey can lead a normal childhood, safe from the real dangers of theflesh trade.For More information on project UDAAN, Follow the URL: http://www.ovbicanada.org/projects/project-udaan/

PRIME MINISTER CONDEMNS TERRORISTATTACKS IN BURKINA FASOOttawa- Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has issued the follow-ing statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso, that killed several people, including six Canadiancitizens, and injured many more. "Canada strongly condemnsthe deadly terrorist attacks that took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.On behalf of all Canadians, we offer our deepest condolences to the families,friends and colleagues of all those killed and a speedy recovery to all thoseinjured. We are deeply saddened by these senseless acts of violence oninnocent civilians. We have offered assistance to the Burkinabé authoritiesin their investigation of this terrible crime."Source: pm.gc.ca


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Sunanda Pushkar death probe by Delhipolice was 'shoddy': AIIMS forensic head

BY SIDHARTHA DUTTA

AAP FIRES UP PUNJAB'S POLITICSTOWARDS NEW TRAJECTORY

BY JAIDEEP SARIN

NEW DELHI, (IANS) The head of All India Institute of MedicalSciences (AIIMS) forensic depar tment, Dr Sudhir Gupta, onTuesday said that Delhi Police investigation into SunandaPushkar death case was slipshod and that it had unneces-sarily delayed sending of the viscera to the Federal Bureauof Investigation in the US."It has been a shoddy investigation on the par t of the police.There have been many errors in the investigation," Dr Guptatold IANS, adding that there had been unnecessary delays inthe case. "The delay in sending the viscera samples ofSunanda Pushkar to the FBI led to its degradation," he said.On January 15, Dr Gupta told this correspondent that the FBIhad found a few radioactive substances in the viscera, "butdue to degraded viscera, they could not read its intensity".This was contrary to what the police had claimed that noradioactive substance had been found in the viscera.On the police claim over the uncer tainty about the exactcause of death or lack of 'clarity' on the poisonous sub-stance that caused Pushkar's death, Gupta told IANS onTuesday: "Delhi Police are lying if they are saying so."Gupta added: "There have been many attempts to dilute theinvestigation. The previous government and the AIIMSadministration even tried to remove me from my post sothat they could form a new medical board which would givea 'natural death' repor t. But they did not succeed. I did notcompromise with the principles and ethics of my profes-sion."Gupta had earlier alleged that he was asked by AIIMSdirector M.C. Mishra to prepare a post-mor tem examination

repor t of Pushkar, stating her death was 'natural'. The AIIMSdirector had filed an affidavit with the Delhi High Cour t last yearto remove Gupta from his post.Pushkar, 52, wife of senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor,was found dead in a south Delhi hotel room on January 17,2014.Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi earlier said that they had

CHANDIGARH, (IANS) Whenever assembly elections areround the corner in Punjab, political fireworks are expected.This time is a little different with the Aam Aadmi Par ty (AAP),a relatively new entrant in Punjab's political space, firing upthe scene and promising to take the state's politics on a newtrajectory.That the AAP factor is going to influence the February 2017assembly polls in Punjab can be seen from the fact that thetwo main, and traditional, political players in the state - theruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the opposition Congress -have realised that the new par ty is giving them a tough fight.From being dismissive about AAP, leaders of both biggerpolitical par ties are now not only taking on each otherpolitically but are together targeting the AAP and its leaderArvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi.Kejriwal, who addressed his first big political rally atMuktsar in Punjab's politically dominant Makwa belt in thesouthwest earlier this week, went ballistic in targeting theruling Badal family headed by Chief Minister Parkash SinghBadal. That the AAP rally was the main focus among politicalconferences of all par ties at the 'Maghi Mela', reflected thegrowing impor tance of AAP in Punjab. In the numbers gametoo, the AAP rally won hands down against the crowds atAkali Dal and Congress rallies.Kejriwal used the oppor tunity to blame the Badals for pro-gressive Punjab's ruin, especially in the past nearly onedecade of Akali Dal rule. From massive corruption to farmers'suicides and failing agriculture in the agrarian state to thedrugs menace - Kejriwal minced no words to blame the Badalfamily for all of Punjab's ills.The AAP, which still does not have prominent face to projectas its next chief minister for Punjab and is trying to build uppar ty cadres in the state, knows that it has already estab-lished its credentials in state politics. The par ty won four LokSabha seats (out of 13 seats) in Punjab, making its maidenparliamentary debut in the April-May 2014 general elections,despite being rejected by the rest of the country. Two of itswinning MPs recorded the highest margins among allsuccessfull candidates in Punjab.There are murmurs in political circles that the AAP andcricketer-turned-politician and BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhuhave been in talks to include him in the AAP and project himas its face. A well-known and upright person, Sidhu, enjoysgood suppor t across Punjab. Being a Jat Sikh and a celebrityonly adds to his credential as a probable chief ministerialcandidate. That he is sulking in the BJP, which has made himalmost redundant in state politics, gives fodder to speculationof his joining the AAP.Punjab's political elite, be it chief minister Badal, Akali Dalpresident Sukhbir Badal or Congress leader Amarinder Singh,have woken up to the challenge being posed to them by theAAP entry into the assembly domain. They are accusing theAPP, and Kejriwal, of being an "outsider" in Punjab's politics.Chief Minister Badal even pointed out that Kejriwal would not

be able to differentiate between crops in agricultural fields,leave alone helping the state's peasantry.The Akalis and the Congress are trying their best to highlightthe "bluff" of the AAP government in Delhi and how it has notbeen able to deliver much. They are accusing Kejriwal andothers of enacting a "drama" in Delhi and not focussing ongovernance.The AAP leadership is not taking anything lying down.Kejriwal and others are openly accusing the Akali Dal andCongress leadership of being "hand in glove" and taking turnsin forming governments in the state. They say that the Akalisand Congress are engaged in a "friendly match" to fool peoplein Punjab.It is for the first time in Punjab's political scene that a thirdforce has emerged as a major challenge to the traditionalplayers. With ills like drugs, corruption and alcohol dominat-ing Punjab, the AAP leadership will have to overcome a lot ofodds to take a shot at power next year.

received a repor t from AIIMS on the FBI's finding on theviscera samples of Pushkar. The FBI had endorsed the AIIMSrepor t of poisoning as the cause of Pushkar's death.Pushkar's viscera samples were sent to the FBI lab inWashington DC, US, in February last year to determine thepoison that may have killed her. The FBI repor t was receivedin October 2015.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

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25 NEW APPOINTMENTSTO THE ORDER OF ONTARIOONTARIO - Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, hasannounced 25 new appointments to the Order of Ontario.The 25 new Members of the Order of Ontario include:" World-renowned concer t pianist and conductor, Anton Kuer ti." Pioneer in palliative care and advocate for the rights of thedying, Sue Bailey." Internationally respected surgeon and specialist in the field ofobstetrics and gynecology, Dr Hugh Allen. The Lieutenant Governor, who is Chancellor of the Order ofOntario, will bestow the honour to the new appointees during aninvestiture ceremony at Queen's Park on January 20, 2016. Twomembers appointed in previous years will also receive theirinsignia during the ceremony.The Order of Ontario is the province's highest official honour. Itrecognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence and

achievement in any field benefiting the people of Ontario oranywhere in the world. "The Order of Ontario recognizes exemplary service of thehighest calibre. These 25 accomplished individuals inspire us.From breaking ground in advances in health care, to speakingout for those who cannot speak for themselves, to nourishingour souls through ar t and music, they have served this provincewith dedication and generosity. To them we are grateful." -Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of OntarioQUICK FACTS" 2016 marks the 30th anniversary the Order of Ontario." Appointments to the Order of Ontario are made on the recom-mendation of an independent advisory council based on publicnominations." The deadline for nominations is March 30, 2016.

$41 MILLION ALLOCATED TOSTOP SEXUAL VIOLENCEAND HARASSMENTONTARIO - Ontario recently introduced legislation that, ifpassed, will help keep students in Thunder Bay safer fromthe threat of sexual violence and harassment.Premier Kathleen Wynne met with student and communityleaders at Lakehead University today to discuss how theSexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act, if passed,would help deliver on the province's commitments in It'sNever Okay, Ontario's ground-breaking action plan to stopsexual violence and harassment.The legislation would make campuses and communitiessafer and more responsive to the needs of survivors byrequiring every publicly assisted college, university andprivate career college in Thunder Bay and across the prov-ince to have a stand-alone sexual violence policy and toreview it - with student involvement - at least once everythree years.Other measures in the action plan will suppor t the safety ofstudents by:" Ensuring every campus has a clearly stated proto-col to address complaints of sexual violence; providing ef-fective training and prevention programs for faculty, staffand students; and ensuring services and suppor ts for sur-vivors are available 24/7." Suppor ting initiatives to reduce sexual violence andensure safe campuses through funding such as the Women'sCampus Safety Grant." Making sure that all students are provided withinformation about preventing sexual violence and are in-formed of the resources and suppor ts available to them -star ting with their first week of orientation and continuingthroughout the year, for all years of study.Suppor ting survivors of sexual violence and creating a safer,more inclusive and more equitable province is par t of thegovernment's plan to build Ontario up. The four-par t planincludes investing in people's talents and skil ls, makingthe la rgest investment in pub l ic in f ras t ruc ture in theprovince's history, creating a dynamic, suppor tive environ-ment where business thrives and building a secure retire-ment savings plan."In Canada, one out of every three women will experiencesome form of sexual assault in her lifetime. By putting thestrength of the law behind our commitment to protectingwomen from sexual harassment and violence, the SexualViolence and Harassment Action Plan Act will send a clearsignal that violence against women will not be tolerated onour campuses or in our communities." - Kathleen Wynne,Premier of Ontario"I am proud of our government's plan to tackle this issueand provide suppor t for students on campuses acrossOntario. Ensuring sexual violence and harassment is a pri-ority for all of us is absolutely vital to both being and feelingsafe on campus. This is par t of our plan to build Ontario up,by recognizing the unique nature of Nor thern Ontario stu-dents and providing the suppor t they need to succeed." -Michael Gravelle, MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior Nor th"Lakehead University's aim has been to create an environ-ment in which sexual violence and harassment is not toler-ated, and in which individuals feel able to come forwardand repor t instances of sexual violence and harassment.The work that our government and our University have donehas been intense and rewarding; however it remains, ofcourse, a work in progress." - Dr Brian J.R. Stevenson,President & Vice-Chancellor, Lakehead University"Dr Maya Angelou once said 'Do the best you can until youknow better. Then when you know better, do better.' LakeheadUniversity cares. While Lakehead has recognized this prob-lem and already taken impor tant steps to address it, theprovincial government is also stepping forward to makeimprovements. Lakehead University, and now the provinceof Ontario, recognized that there was a problem that neededto be addressed; that they could do better for students. Andso they have." - Sherrie-Lee Chiarot-Petrie, Lakehead Uni-versity graduate studentQUICK FACTS" Students and survivors can access services at theStudent Health and Counselling Centre at Lakehead Univer-sity and the Health Centre or Counselling Office at Confed-eration College. Services are also available within the com-munity, such as at the Thunder Bay Sexual Assault & SexualAbuse Counselling & Crisis Centre." In 2014-15, more than 17,000 students studied atConfederation College and Lakehead University in ThunderBay." Ontario has committed $41 million over three yearsto suppor t the action plan's implementation." Through a $3 million innovation fund, Ontario issuppor ting creative new projects to enhance communitysuppor t for survivors of sexual violence." Sexual assault victimization rates are five timeshigher for women under the age of 35." Over half of sexual assaults of postsecondary stu-dents involve alcohol or drugs.

Prime Minister announces $20 million for Centre forCommercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)

ONTARIO - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that theCentre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) willreceive $20 million - under the Advanced Manufacturing Fund (AMF)- to establish and operate the Centre for Advanced Therapeutic Cell Technologies.This will be the first cell therapy development facility in the world to use a collabo-rative approach - between research institutions and industry - to solve cell therapymanufacturing challenges. The new, world-class facility will create good jobs,strengthen Canada's knowledge economy, and position Ontario as a global hub forthe cell therapy industry.Every year, thousands of Canadians die as a result of cancer, heart conditions, andother medical disorders. Regenerative medicine has emerged as a promisingapproach to disease prevention and treatment, harnessing the power of stem cellsto repair, regenerate, or replace damaged cells, tissues, and organs affected bydisease.The Government of Canada will therefore provide funding to the CCRM, who will

collaborate with GE Healthcare and other industry par tners, toestablish a centre that will accelerate the development and adoption ofcell manufacturing technologies."The health of Canadians is a priority. We believe that supporting this new, world-class facility will have significant benefits for innovative health-related technologyin Canada and around the world. It will also generate new jobs and make Ontarioan even stronger competitor in the bio-tech industry."- Justin Trudeau, Prime Min-ister of Canada"This is wonderful news for CCRM, Canada, GE Healthcare and the global regen-erative medicine community. The new centre will provide jobs forhighly skilled workers and help the cell therapy industry over-come critical manufacturing bottlenecks. Most impor tantly, theoutputs of this centre will enable access to revolutionary medicaltreatments for patients from around the world."- Michael May, President andCEO, Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine.

PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU OFFICIALLY OPENED THE GOOGLE OFFICES IN KITCHENER. ALSO SEEN IN THE IMAGE IS NAVDEEPBAINS, MINISTER OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (PHOTO BY ADAM SCOTTI).


TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016c a n a d aMinister of National Defence welcomes back CanadianArmed Forces troops deployed on Operation PROVISIONOTTAWA - Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan welcomed approximately 70 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)members back to Canada from their deployment to Jordan and Lebanon. The soldiers were deployed onOperation PROVISION, the CAF's contribution in suppor t of the Government of Canada's effor ts to wel-come 25 000 Syrian refugees in Canada by the end of February 2016. This small contingent of personnelis returning after several weeks of assisting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in theprocessing of refugees at centres in Lebanon and Jordan. Approximately 150 CAF personnel remain inLebanon and Jordan to provide continued assistance with application processing and medical screening.Quick Facts" CAF personnel are deployed on Operation PROVISION where they are suppor ting the lead gov-ernment depar tment, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, with the processing of Syrian refu-gees destined to resettle in Canada." The CAF has been assisting IRCC with various aspects of the refugee screening process, includ-ing the processing of applications in Jordan and Lebanon, the collection of biometric data, and the comple-tion of medical examinations for Syrians who applied to immigrate to Canada under this program." In anticipation of completion of the mission abroad, the CAF continues to evaluate staffing needsat processing centres in both Lebanon and Jordan. The decision to scale down staffing numbers wasmade in consultation with IRCC and other government depar tments." Approximately 230 personnel have deployed to Lebanon and Jordan on Operation PROVISIONsince mid-November 2015. A contingent of approximately 150 CAF members will remain in Lebanon andJordan to provide continued assistance with application processing and medical screening.

General Accounting & Bookkeeping

ONTARIO PREMIER KATHLEEN WYNNE ATTENDED THE 128TH ANNUAL TORONTO REGION BOARDOF TRADE DINNER (PREMIERPHOTOS).



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MANPREET BADAL MERGESHIS PARTY WITH CONGRESSNEW DELHI, (IANS) Manpreet Singh Badal, an estrangednephew of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, on Fri-day merged his People's Par ty of Punjab with the Congress tounitedly take on SAD-BJP in the assembly polls in the stateearly next year.The merger was announced at the Congress headquar ters herein presence of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh andpar ty leaders Shakeel Ahmed, Ambika Soni and Par tap SinghBajwa.Amarinder Singh, who will lead the par ty's campaign in thestate, said the Congress had lost the last two assembly pollsby a very slender margin and the par ty was working towardsalliances. He identified the Left par ties and the Bahujan SamajPar ty as potential allies, saying that merger of the PPP hadbeen concluded."We are very happy. Manpreet Badal has merged his par tywith us... Hope we will be able to forge a strong alliance for theelection," he said, adding Manpreet Badal underplays his po-sition but he has a pan-Punjab image and his par ty was presentin all districts. Manpreet Badal said his par ty was mergingwith the Congress unconditionally.Noting that he had been the youngest legislator and youngest financeminister in Punjab, he said he had parted ways with the Shiromani AkaliDal-led government in 2010 following differences with its leadershipand had floated a new par ty in 2011.

India has given befitting reply to cross-border firing: Army chiefNEW DELHI, (IANS) Firing and infiltration has continued at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, but India has given a befitting reply, the armychief, General Dalbir Singh has said. "The continuing cross-border firing and infiltration bids have kept the Line of Control active. You(Army) have given a befitting reply to the enemy at the border," General Singh said at the 68th Army Day parade on Friday.The General added that "vigilance" along the "border and other difficult areas", has brought down infiltration. "We have also caught largenumber of terrorists in surgical operations and killed many of their key leaders. We have also recovered large quantity of explosives," hesaid. The Army chief said this has been done "maintaining the human rights standards".The general added despite the counter-infiltration and counter-terrorist operations, the Indian Army has taken care of its primary role andis always ready to face any challeng. Talking about China, General Singh said India wants "constructive engagement" and the under-standing between armies on both sides has improved. "On the nor thern front, India wants constructive engagement with China. Bothsides are adopting confidence building measures to reduce tension at the border." He, however, added that infiltration continues in the"disputed areas" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and patrolling continues from our side.

EX-SERVICEMEN HOLD SIT-INOUTSIDE JAITLEY'S RESIDENCENEW DELHI, (IANS) Hundreds of ex-servicemen on Sunday protested outside Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's official residence here to seekchanges in the government's One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.The protesters said they won't budge unless someone from the government spoke to them on their demands. "The protest in front of the financeminister's residence began around 9 a.m. We are protesting against the anomalies in the government notification on the OROP," a protestertold IANS. He said the OROP notification of November 7, 2015, provided for revision in the pension of ex-servicemen every five years whereasit ought to be done every year. "We won't move from here until the minister or a government official assures us of some action on our demand,"he said, adding that the protesters will hold a sit-in even during the night.Over 300 people from Delhi and surrounding areas are par ticipating in the protest, he said. The government has already appointed a judicialcommittee to look into the OROP anomalies. The committee is likely to submit its repor t within six months. The ex-servicemen have beenstaging a protest at Jantar Mantar here for the past several months to press their demand, first for issuance of a government notification on theOROP and lately for suitable amendments to it.

WOMAN WHO THREW INK AT KEJRIWAL SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODYNEW DELHI, (IANS) The woman who threw ink at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a public gathering here on Sundaywas on Tuesday remanded in 14 days judicial custody by a cour t here. Metropolitan Magistrate Sunil Kumar sentBhawna Arora, a woman from the Aam Aadmi Par ty's breakaway group in Punjab, to 14 days' judicial custodyafter Delhi Police informed him that she is not required for fur ther custodial interrogation.Arora was arrested on Monday after she threw ink at Kejriwal, alleging a "CNG scam" in the AAP government.She, however, missed him. The incident took place at an event held here to mark the "success" of the odd-eventraffic restriction scheme. Kejriwal, who was speaking at the gathering held at the city's Chhatrasal Stadium,remained unruffled. leader Ashutosh told a press conference earlier that the ink attack on Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal "was par t of a conspiracy to attack and hur t Kejriwal. The conspiracy to murder him cannot be ruledout." He also slammed Delhi Police for allegedly failing to provide enough security to Kejriwal. Ashutosh said thatKejriwal was attacked several times in the past and Delhi Police could not get away by saying that "they were caught unawares".The AAP leader said that even during Kejriwal's visit to Muktsar in Punjab, security provided by Delhi Police was "almost negligible. Whenhe (Kejrwal) was returning by train, there was no Delhi Police personnel with him," Ashutosh added.

PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER PARKASH SINGH BADAL AND DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL DURING A SHIROMANIAKALI DAL RALLY IN MUKTSAR (IANS).

SCHOLAR'S SUICIDE: VARSITYSIMMERS, RAHUL MEETSSTUDENTS, SEEKS ACTIONHYDERABAD, (IANS) University of Hyderabad continues to sim-mer over Dalit research scholar's suicide while Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi visited the campus on Tuesday to showsolidarity with protesting students and demanded action againsta union minister and the VC.On a day when a two member committee sent by union humanresources development ministry began its probe amid mas-sive protests, Gandhi air-dashed from Delhi to meet the stu-dents and back their demands.He sought action against union minister Bandaru Dattatreya,the Hyderabad University vice chancellor and others allegedlyresponsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula.The student ended his life on Sunday while staging protest alongwith four other research scholars over their suspension follow-ing an alleged clash with some leaders of ABVP."Whoever is responsible for this outcome has to be punished instrictest manner possible," Gandhi said while addressing stu-dents at the place where suspended students members of JointAction Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, an umbrella of 14student unions, are on indefinite strike.

Nearly 25 Punjabi youth missingafter boat capsizes near PanamaKAPURTHALA/JALANDHAR, (IANS) Nearly 25 youth from Punjab weremissing when the boat, on which they were travelling to the US, cap-sized near Panama, according to information based on the eyewitnessaccount of a fellow traveller from Punjab reaching here.Though the boat capsized on January 10, the information reached fam-ily members of two of the victims after three to four days. The familiesmet police officials in Kapurthala town, 185 km from Chandigarh onSunday. "Survivor" Sonu, who belongs to Punjab, shared informationon the boat accident with family members of two of the youth - GurjitSingh and Gurvinder Singh - who are from villages in Kapurthala dis-trict, police officials said.Police officials said that families of the victims have filed a complaintfollowing which investigations are being made against a travel agentwho had collected lakhs of rupees from each youth to send them abroad.Kapurthala district police chief Rajinder Singh told media that the travelagent, Kulwinder Singh, had been booked and teams were trying totrace him.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016i n d i a

Sunanda Pushkar's death was unnatural:Delhi Police Commissioner Bassi

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI PRESENTS CERTIFICATES TO INNOVATORS IN THE INDIAN ARMY, ON THE OCCASION OF 68THARMY DAY, IN NEW DELHI (IANS).

CONTD. FROM PAGE 3Major political par ties in Punjab - the ruling Shiromani AkaliDal, the opposition Congress and new entrant AAP - held theirpolitical conferences on the occasion. They were seen as ashow of strength by all the par ties ahead of assembly polls tobe held in the state in February next year. Top leaders from allpar ties, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal (AkaliDal), Amarinder Singh (Congress) and Kejriwal (AAP), launchedbarbs at each other in their speeches."In 10 years, the Badals and their family have looted Punjab. In10 years, they have spread lawlessness (goondagardi), In 10years, the Badals have spread drugs in the state. They haveforced farmers to commit suicide. In 10 years, the Badals havesucked Punjab completely," Kejriwal said in his aggressivespeech against the ruling dispensation."Today people have come here to take a pledge to oust theBadals. Even if people have to sacrifice their lives for this, theyshould be ready. Punjab is the land of sacrifices," Kejriwal thun-dered. The Delhi chief minister urged people in Punjab to takethe cue from voters in Delhi who had, last year, voted the AAP topower in a big way. The AAP won 67 of the 70 assembly seats,leaving just three to the BJP - an Akali ally - and none to theCongress."People in Delhi have shown the way. I have spoken to manypeople in Punjab and I am confident the AAP will win 100 out of117 seats in the state," said Kejriwal, vir tually launching theAAP's election campaign. "In Delhi, our government has stoppedcorruption. Eighty percent corruption has stopped in Delhi. Myminister had demanded a Rs.6 lakh bribe. I sacked him imme-diately. If my son induldges in corruption, I will throw him out ofthe house too," Kejriwal said.He accused the Akali and Congress leaders of being hand inglove. "The next assembly poll in Punjab is between two par ties- AAP on one side and the Akali Dal, Congress and BJP togetheron the other side," said a confident Kejriwal. Punjab Chief Min-ister Parkash Singh Badal, addressing the Akali Dal's politicalconference, said: "The Congress and AAP leaders are mislead-ing people. Only the Akali Dal can bring development in Punjab.""Take Kejriwal to an agricultural field and Kejriwal will not evenbe able to recognise what crop it is. How will he help the farm-ers of Punjab?" Badal asked, taking a dig at the AAP leader.Referring to Amarinder Singh, Badal said: "Amarinder has losttwo times, has no capacity and has no chance to win again. Hehad been a rebel in the Congress in the last few years."

Badals ruinedPunjab, oust them

from power: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI, (IANS) The current observation of the final viscera report ofSunanda Pushkar gives a clear impression that she died an unnatural death,Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said on Friday. "The current investiga-tion of the final viscera report submitted to the Delhi Police states that SunandaPushkar did not die a natural death... that is for certain. It was an unnaturaldeath," Bassi told reporters here.The Delhi Police is reviewing the final viscera report of Pushkar, who diedhere under mysterious circumstances two years ago. Shewas the wife of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Calling thereport longish, Bassi said: "It will take some time forus to go through the entire report as it also hasseveral annexures. Once we go through the en-tire report, we will take the necessary steps."The final report comes in the wake of the DelhiPolice receiving the viscera report in Novem-

ber from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where it was sent todetermine the kind of poison that killed Pushkar, after

an AIIMS medical board identified poisoning as thereason for her death. Commenting on the FBI re-port, Bassi said: "None of the samples containedradio-active elements, according to the FBI."Earlier, Bassi had tweeted that Deepak Mishra, spe-cial commissioner (law and order), was reviewingthe progress. Asked if Tharoor will be interrogated

over the issue again, Bassi saidthe Delhi Police will take all thenecessary steps required in thecase. Pushkar, 52, was founddead in a south Delhi hotel roomon January 17, 2014.

MODIJI, DO WHAT YOU WANT. GOD IS WITH US.YOU CAN'T DO ANY DAMAGE TO US: KEJRIWALNEW DELHI, (IANS) Central agencies are planning to raid hisministers, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged on Friday,adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to "fail us".Quoting "PMO sources", Kejriwal tweeted that the raids may beconducted on Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia - known tobe the Aam Aadmi Par ty leader's most trusted confidant - orHealth Minister Satyendra Jain. "Officers under them beingpressurized to get something wrong signed from them," he said.In another tweet but in Hindi, Kejriwal added: "Modiji, do whatyou want. Truth is on our side. God is with us. You can't do any

WARNS CENTRAL AGENCIES PLANNING TO RAID HIS MINISTERSdamage to us." Later, during a press conference on the odd-even traffic curbs, Kejriwal said the Modi government was"trying its level best to fail us"."But they won't succeed because our strengths are truth andhonesty." The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided theDelhi Secretariat on December 16, accusing the principalsecretary to Kejriwal ofcorruption. Kejriwal said theCBI searched his office too.The CBI denied this.

MODI KICKS OFF BJP POLL CAMPAIGN INASSAM, SLAMS CONGRESSKOKRAJHAR/GUWAHATI, (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on the Congress government in Assam, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi on Tuesday kicked off the BJP's campaign for the assembly polls, saying the state didnot develop much despite a prime minister getting elected from it for 10 years.Modi said Assam has not developed much despite the 10 years of Congress-led United Progressive Alliancerule and that the Congress has been in power in the state for about last 15 years. The state assembly electionsare due in April this year.The prime minister first addressed a public rally organised by the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) and then aYuva Shakti Sanmilan at Khanapara area in Guwahati.He also addressed a large gathering of students from different education institutions of the northeast at the IITGuwahati campus before leaving for New Delhi.In Kokrajhar, Modi announced the Karbis of the plains will be granted the Scheduled Tribes (ST) status while thethe Bodo Kachari community of the hill areas like Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao district will also be grantedthe ST status soon.The prime minister, however, cautiously avoided talking about the issue of statehood to Bodoland and theBodoland Peoples' Front's demand for a Rs.1,000 crore package for development of the Bodo region.While the BPF has been demanding a special package of Rs.1,000 crore for the four districts of BodolandTerritorial Areas Districts (BTAD), several other Bodo organisations have demanded that the prime ministermake the Centre's stand clear on the issue of statehood to the Bodo lands.



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US POLICIES RESPONSIBLE FORREGIONAL INSTABILITY: SARTAJ AZIZISLAMABAD, (IANS): United States'policies are responsible for insta-bility in south Asia, said Sartaj Aziz,foreign affairs advisor here on Mon-day, urging the Obama administra-tion to analyse its role - and that ofits allies - in the region.Aziz said: "Pakistan's answer to in-stability is the strengthening de-mocracy in the country."The US created 'holy warriors' inour tribal areas during the 'Afghan

Jihad' and then left them as soonas the war was over, a factor whichcontributed to decades of instabil-ity in Pakistan and the region," Azizasser ted.Talking about external threats to thecountry's stability, Dawn quotedAziz as saying that since 2013,Pakistan has been pursuing a policyof non-interference and is not tak-ing part in other nations' wars.He said, "We have decided that we

are not going to indulge in fightingother countries' wars now, and thispolicy is being pursued vigorouslyby the government."In his last State of the Union ad-dress, US President Obamawarned: "Instability will continue fordecades in many parts of the world- in the Middle East, in Afghanistanand Pakistan, in par ts of centralAmerica, Africa and Asia."Obama also identified a link be-

THERE CAN'T BE 'GOOD' AND 'BAD'MILITANTS: PAKISTANI DAILYISLAMABAD, (IANS) Muslim countries must confront religious extremism without drawing a linebetween "good" and "bad" militants, a Pakistani newspaper said recently. "Unfor tunately, someMuslim states have either looked away as extremist groups grew in size and strength in theirbackyards while others have used these as proxies in geopolitical conflicts," a Dawn editorialsaid. "It is also true that most Muslim states - both authoritarian set-ups and democracies - havefailed to deliver social, economic and political justice to their citizens, helping fuel the rise ofradical movements, which want to destroy the 'system' and build it anew in their own image."The Dawn said that Muslim states must realize that the militant tide has to be confronted withoutdifferentiation between "good" and "bad" militants. While joint counterterrorism effor ts were needed.any alliance built along sectarian or geopolitical lines was doomed to fail, it said. Referring torecent terror attacks in Pakistan and Turkey, it said these showed "that nearly all Muslim states - despite geographic,cultural and political differences - are vulnerable to violent religious extremism."

Eight killed as car bomb hitssecurity chief's home in YemenSANA'A, (IANS) A booby-trapped car struck the home of the se-curity chief of Yemen's southern por t city of Aden on Sunday,killing about eight people, a police official told Xinhua. "A four-wheel-drive vehicle loaded with explosives struck the main gateof the residential building of Aden's security chief, Brigadier ShalalAli Shayea, leaving eight people dead -- mostly bodyguards," alocal police official said on condition of anonymity.Witnesses said that "a huge blast was heard near the house ofAden's security chief in Aden's neighbourhood of Tawahi andfollowed by exchange of heavy gunfire." A spokesman for Aden'slocal government said that "for the second time, Brigadier Gen-eral Shalal Shayea survived a terrorist car bombing unharmed,but some soldiers were killed and others injured at the scene."Initial information indicate that eight soldiers were killed in theattack, including the suicide bomber who slammed his explo-sives-laden car into the building. An unspecified number of civil-ians, who were present in the area, were wounded in the explo-sion. The port city of Aden, Yemen's temporary capital, has beenwitnessing a state of chaos and lawlessness during the pastmonths resulted in the assassination of Aden's governor, sev-eral security officers and judges.

Rocket attack rocks Kabul, two injuredKABUL, (IANS) At least two people were injured after militantsfired two rockets at Afghan capital of Kabul on Sunday, sourcessaid. The rockets struck near Italian Embassy, injuring two se-curity guards, a security source told Xinhua. The rockets landedin Shashdarak, a locality which also homes to several diplo-matic offices and several residential apar tment buildings.The attack that occurred at around 09:40pm local time also causedfire on the building as several fire engines and ambulances wereseen on the spot. Unofficial sources said the stricken buildingbelongs to Italian Embassy. No group has claimed responsibilityyet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claimsresponsibility for such attacks.

ISRAELI SOLDIERS STAND AT THE SCENE WHERE A PALESTINIAN WAS SHOT DEAD BY ISRAELI TROOPS IN THE WEST BANKCITY OF NABLUS (IANS).

tween militancy and instabil ityand warned that some unstableregions might become safe ha-vens for terrorists.



80 PERTOSA DRIVE, UNIT 12,BRAMPTON ONT., L6X 5E9



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 w o r l d

62 people have same wealth as 3.5 billion

40 CIVILIANS KILLED INSYRIAN AIRSTRIKESDAMASCUS, (IANS) Airstrikes against the de facto capital ofthe Islamic State terror group in nor thern Syria killed 40 civil-ians on Sunday, a monitor group reported. At least eight chil-dren were among those killed in the airstrikes against the nor th-ern city of Raqqa over the past 24 hours, said the Syrian Ob-servatory for Human Rights. The London-based watchdog groupsaid it was not immediately known whether the air raids werecarried out by the Russians or Syrians. Raqqa in nor thernSyria has been self-declared by the IS as the capital of whatthey call the "caliphate". US-led air raids and Russian as wellas Syrian warplanes usually strike IS positions in the city.

400 PEOPLE KIDNAPPED INSYRIAN PROVINCE BY ISDAMASCUS, (IANS) The Islamic State terror group kidnappedabout 400 people from a town that its militants stormed inSyria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour, media repor ted onSunday. The IS militants stormed the town of al-Bughailiyeh onSaturday, killing over 280 people, mostly women and children,and tossing their bodies in the Euphrates River in the country-side of Deir al-Zour, near Iraq, Xinhua repor ted.The IS attack on the neighbourhood was carried out with sev-eral suicide bombers blowing themselves up at positionsmanned by government forces, the repor t said. Syria's statenews agency SANA also repor ted the mass killing, sayingscores of people were massacred by IS in al-Bughailiyeh.Meanwhile, the opposition Syrian Observatory for HumanRights, a London-based watchdog group, said the IS sneakedinto al-Bughailiyeh on Saturday, killing tens of governmentforces. The IS attack on the neighbourhood comes amid re-newed battles between the IS and the Syrian military forces inseveral areas in Deir al-Zour, including the vicinity of the mainairbase near the Iraqi border.

INDONESIAN PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO (C, FRONT) VISITS A SHOPPING MALL NEAR THE BOMBINGS AND GUN ATTACKS SITE INJAKARTA, INDONESIA IN WHICH 14 DIED AND 20 GOT INJURED (IANS).

CONTD. FROM PAGE 3"Had inequality within countries not grown during 1990 and 2010, anextra 200 million people would have escaped poverty. That could haverisen to 700 million had poor people benefited more than the rich fromeconomic growth," the Oxfam report said."There is no getting away from the fact that the big winners in our globaleconomy are those at the top," the Oxfam report said. The poorest half ofthe world's population received one per cent of the total increase in globalwealth, while half of that increase went to the top one per cent since theonset of the 21st century.In China, the rich one per cent own a third of its wealth, while the poorest25 per cent own one per cent, according to a recent study conducted byPeking University's Institute of Social Sciences. "Our economic systemis heavily skewed in their favour (the rich), and arguably increasinglyso," said the Oxfam report. "Far from trickling down, income and wealthare instead being sucked upwards at an alarming rate. Once there, anever more elaborate system of tax havens and an industry of wealthmanagers ensure that it stays there, far from the reach of ordinary citi-zens and their government."How wealth is spirited away to tax havensNine of ten companies, of 200 analysed, are based in at least one taxhaven. Corporate investment in tax havens in 2014 was nearly four timeslarger than that in 2001, according to Oxfam's analysis.One recent estimate is that $7.6 trillion of individual wealth - more thanthe combined gross GDP of the UK and Germany - is currently heldoffshore, the Oxfam report said.Similarly, around 30 per cent wealth of Africa's rich (around $500 billion)is held offshore, leading to a tax-revenue loss of nearly $14 billion toAfrican countries. The gender pay gap is also quite evident - 53 of 62world's richest people are men. Women make up the majority of theworld's low-paid workers, concentrated in the most precarious jobs, thereport said.In India, the pay of CEOs skyrocketsThe CEO of India's top information technology firm makes 416 times the

salary of a typical employee in the company, the Oxfam report said.Indian lawmakers passed a disclosure mandate in 2013, requiring payratios of CEOs to be made public, according to this repor t by thePricewaterhouseCoopers consultancy. India's stock market regulator, theSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), is now releasing the firstset of such data, the Oxfam report said. The top executive at ITC, thecountry's largest cigarette manufacturer, for example, is paid 439times the median salary for employees at his company, said theOxfam analysis, quoting this repor t from Quar tz, a por tal.India has only 42,800 people with a declared income exceedingRs.1 crore; that is 0.1 per cent of 35 million Indian tax payers, asthen finance minister P. Chidambaram mentioned in his 2013-14budget speech. India has 172 million people below the pover tyline, IndiaSpend repor ted earlier; we also repor ted how wealth isincreasing in India but so is inequality.What the pharma industry - one of the world's most profitable -has wroughtThe pharmaceutical sector, one of the most profitable industrieson ear th, strongly protects intel lectual proper ty r ights (IPR),which has paved the way for 90 billionaires.The repor t explains how pharmaceutical companies in the USpressure their own government and through it, the Indian govern-ment and Indian pharma companies, to honour IPRs. For instance,pharmaceutical companies spent over $228 million on lobbying in Wash-ington in 2014. In India, patient groups, civil society organisations andgovernment have challenged pharma giants for access to cheap medi-cines.For instance, patient pressure groups claim that India has imported onlysmall quantities of Onbrez (Indacaterol), a drug whose rights are ownedby the Swiss multinational Novartis, whose drug could help as many as30 million Indians suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disor-der. To meet the demand, Indian multinational company Cipla, based inMumbai, began manufacturing its own version of Onbrez and selling it fora fraction of the original price.

Taliban fighters attend a surrender ceremony in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province, Afghanistan (IANS).

Afghan government urges Taliban to join peace process

China concerned over NepalPM's maiden India visitKATHMANDU, (IANS) Ahead of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli's maiden India visit, China has apparently expressedconcern over it, diplomatic sources here said.Earlier, there was expectation that Oli would embark on a maiden visitto China before India due to unrest in southern Nepal's Tarai regionand blockage of essential commodities' supply from India.In a meeting between Chinese Vice Minister for international rela-tions Chen Fengxian and Nepalese minister Agni Sapkota in Beijingon Sunday, Chen inquired about Oli's upcoming India visit and how itwas going.Mentioning about his meeting with Chen, Sapkota said: "During mymeeting with Chinese vice minister, he asked me about the upcom-ing visit of Prime Minister K.P. Oli to India."Chen also asked when the visit was taking place, he added."In response, I told the Chinese vice minister that we are holding talkswith the Indian side in respect to the visit," Sapkota said on Mondayhere upon his return from China.This concern was especially raised from Chinese side after specula-tion was rife in Kathmandu that Oli may break the tradition of visitingIndia first than China.Nepalese prime ministers upon assuming office usually have startedtheir foreign trips from India and later visited other countries.Diplomatic sources said Chinese side will also raise the same kindof concern over Prime Minister Oli's maiden visit to India with Nepal'sFinance Minister Bishnu Poudel who is currently in Beijing.Though the dates of Oli's visit to India are yet to be announced, offi-cials said he would visit China only after India.Chinese officials were almost sure that breaking the age-old tradition,Prime Minister Oli, a career Leftist leader who became the primeminister with the support of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist),would visit China first and not India.But in a turn of events, Oli favoured a visit to India first to ease theprotest in Tarai and a political deal between ruling parties and agitat-ing Madhesi Morcha. This has paved the way for his India visit first.The Chinese side was doing necessary preparation to sign severalunderstandings and agreements like bilateral investment promotionand protection act, trade and transit treaty, free trade agreement,agreement on super voltage cross-border transmission line, and pro-motion of tourism and many others.The Chinese side also hinted there could be high-level visitfrom China in 2016 at the level of the president and premierand inquired about the condition of roads in Nepal and avail-ability of hotels.In connection of Oli's upcoming China visit, Indian Ambas-sador Ranjit Rae held a meeting with Deputy Prime Ministerand Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa on Monday.For more than four months, the plains of the Nepal Terai have been sim-mering with Morcha-led protests against the country's new Constitutionthat was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20.

BANGLADESH EXTRADITINGDAUD MERCHANT TO INDIADHAKA, (IANS) The process to extradite Daud Merchant, con-victed for music baron Gulshan Kumar's murder, to India hasstar ted, said Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman KhanKamal.Merchant, an aide of Dubai based underworld don DawoodIbrahim, was in Bangladeshi prison for five years after he tres-passed into the country in 2009, bdnews24.com repor ted.Merchant was re-arrested outside Gazipur's Kashimpur Jailas soon as he was released on bail on December 2, 2014.The following day police presented him before a Dhaka cour tand secured a three-day remand to question him.Merchant was arrested on May 28, 2009, from Brahmanbarhiain Bangladesh.He was serving life sentence in an Indian jail from 2002.Mumbai police said he absconded on being released onparole in April 2009 to visit his family in Mumbra, a smalltown near Mumbai.

KABUL, (IANS) The Afghanistan government here on Monday urgedthe Taliban to join peace process to resolve all issues through nego-tiations, as the second round of the four-nation talks kicked off.The talks are aimed at a roadmap for bringing Taliban to nego-tiating table with the Afghan government and find political so-lution to lingering crisis in the militancy-plagued country."On behalf of the government and the people of Afghanistan, Iam inviting the Taliban to join the peace process and let ussolve all differences through negotiations," Afghan ForeignMinister Salahuddin Rabbani said in his opening remarks atthe meeting in which Pakistan, China and the US also par tici-

pated.The first round of the four-nation talks was held in Islamabadlast week.Taliban members who reject the talks and push for war wouldbe isolated, Rabbani warned in his address.Rabbani also said Afghans are hopeful that par ticipation andinvolvement of the two major powers, the US and China, couldtake the talks into result-oriented one and eventually led tolasting peace in their war-torn country.Peace in Afghanistan would benefit Pakistan and the whole region,the Afghan top diplomat said.

Om Puri excited abouthis first Pakistani film

MIDWEEK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AKSHAY KUMAR

AKSHAY KUMAR AND NIMRAT KAUR DURING PROMOTION OF THEIR UPCOMING FILM`AIRLIFT` IN KOLKATA (IANS).

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!CALL ROGERS AT 1.800.929.5723 & BELL FIBE AT 1.888.748.9196

SYDNEY, (IANS) At one stage seemingly set to lose the final, SaniaMirza and Mar tina Hingis came up with a stupendous performance toearn a fantastic come-from-behind victory and clinch the Sydney Internationaltitle at the Ken Rosewall Arena here on Friday. The top seeds were down andalmost out when they were trailing 1-6, 2-5 against French third seeds CarolineGarcia and Kristina Mladenovic. But the Indo-Swiss combine staged a remarkablecome-back to eventually win the second set 7-5 and the super tie-break 10-5 in anhour and 14 minutes at the NWS Tennis Centre.This is the Indo-Swiss pair's 30th win in a row, second title of 2016 and 11th overall.They have now won seven titles on the trot with the Brisbane International crowncoming last week and five of them coming in 2015. The 29-year-old Sania was thedefending champion here but last year she won the title with American BethanieMattek-Sands. The first set turned out to be disastrous for the Indo-Swiss pair, whowere not only broken thrice but they also served four double-faults at crucialjunctures to literally give away the set. They were down a break at 2-5 in the secondset when Sania and Martina somehow found their legs to turn it around. The topseeds won the next five games, breaking their opponents twice in as many chancesavailable, to remarkably seal the set and push the match into the decider.The super tie-break was anybody's game but the Sania-Martina duohad the experience and the nerves to seal it 10-5 and clinch yet an-other title and prepare themselves in the best possible way for thefirst Major of the year -- the Australian Open which star ts on Monday.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Indian veteran actor Om Puri says he "really en-joyed working" on his first Pakistani film "Actor In Law", which has anunusual script."It's an unusual script. I loved the script so, I decided to do this film. This is myfirst Pakistani film. I really enjoyed working on the film. I recently completedmy shoot," Om Puri, who had left for Karachi for the film's shooting on De-cember 31 last year and returned on Monday, told IANS. He also praised theteam of "Actor In Law", which is directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced byFizza Ali Meerza."I had a great and talented team and they have shot the film very profession-ally. It falls in the category of films like 'Bol' and 'Khuda Kay Liye'," he shared.The actor, who entered the Indian film in-dustry in 1975 with "Chor Chor Chhupja",added that he did not find "any kind of ani-mosity" and that the Pakistanis were "ex-tremely kind".He also said that he was approached forone more Pakistani film, but he didn'thave the dates. "Even that's a won-derful story though." Asked aboutthe recent Pathankot attack, hesaid: "Whatever happened inPathankot was very sad. Evenduring the press conference, Isaid 'My request is whoever isbehind this, I am requestingthem it's not wor th it'."

BIG B BEST SHOWSTOPPER:NEHA DHUPIAMUMBAI, (IANS) Actress and former Miss India Neha Dhupia feelsmegastar Amitabh Bachchan is the "best showstopper ever." Neha,who attended Vikram Phadnis's fashion show where Amitabh walkedin the final piece created by the designer, couldn't stop praising the73-year-old actor."The best showstopper ever. #amitabhbachchan. It does not get bet-ter than seeing him on the ramp! Congratulations @vikramphadnis#25years and counting. #legend #respect #icon," Neha captioneda video, which she shared on Instagram, in which the "Piku" star canbe seen sashaying down the ramp. The fashion show was organisedto celebrate Phadnis's 25 years in the fashion industry.Amitabh also took to Twitter to share photographs of the event. "A dayin the life of AB. Endorsement shoot in the early morning. Then walk-ing ramp for Vikram Fadnis," he wrote. Amitabh was joined by hiswife Jaya Bachchan and daughter Shweta Nanda at the event.

Sania-Martina clinch SydneyInternational crown

WWE NXT SUPERSTAR LOVEPREET SANGHA, DIVAS CHAMPION CHARLOTTE AND WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ROMANREIGNS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN NEW DELHI (IANS).

Hard work gets you nowhere; you need to push way beyondhard work to survive in this industry: Akshay Kumar

BY SHAZIA MALIKTORONTO - By the time 'Airlift' releases, this will be my fifth film within12 months, so when I work this hard and this much, it gives me morefreedom to branch out into many different aspects of Hindi cinema. Thiswas mentioned by megastar Akshay Kumar during an exclusive inter-view with Midweek.He added: "You see I don't like to put all my eggs into one basket, I'm notready to only pray for one humungous success in a year, not yet anyway."Without having any links to the film industry and not indulging in the raceof being number one, slowly and steadily he made his mark in an indus-try this is extremely cutting edge.Midweek got the chance to get some comments from him about hisupcoming film, Airlift, his journey so far and upcoming projects. Here areexcerpts from his interview:Q1. Some of your films did not do well the past year? Being a mega-starcould you not guess they will bomb at the boxoffice and stayed awayfrom those projects?Ans: By the time 'Airlift' releases, this will be my 5th film within 12months, so when I work this hard & this much, it gives me more freedomto branch out into many different aspects of Hindi cinema. You see I don'tlike to put all my eggs into one basket, I'm not ready to only pray for onehumungous success in a year, not yet anyway. I'm actually really enjoy-ing the full mix match of genres I'm playing with right now.It keeps me on my toes and the audience happy that they know I'm not

dishing out the same kind of cinema that works in the hope it'll makemoney. I've reached that stage where the success of a film doesn't meanas much to me as the interest or the appreciation it can earn wholeheart-edly. Not all blockbusters are worthy, I say that from my own experience,as wonderful as it is to break records, there are very few that make it intothe 'Cult Club' forever.These are so precious and rare, no one can dish out a 'Cult' every year,but there's no harm in entertaining people while you wait eagerly for thatmagical script/screenplay that blows the audience away for the rest oftheir lives.Q2. About your upcoming film, Airlift, you have said it was India's mostheroic mission. While doing the film what were your sensibilities?Ans - Airlift is a story which every Indian should know about. It's not justa film, it's an insight into the harsh goings on and the bravery it took byaverage citizens to rescue its terrorized people. When not even govern-ments could stand a chance in a war zone, brave civilians travelledtirelessly through deserted terrain in desperate hope their fellow Indiansfrom their beloved motherland would have the courage to 'Airlift' them allout of Kuwait, where they had made a new life away from India, butneeded desperately to be brought back to safety, all 1 lakh 70 thousand ofthem…Even when people turn their backs on India in search of better horizons,India never turns its back on its people.

I CONTD. ON PAGE 18


TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016b o l l y w o o d

ADITYA ROY KAPUR AND KATRINA KAIF DURING THE FASHION SHOW BY DESIGNER MANISH MALHOTRA IN MUMBAI (IANS).

Actors can't run away frombeing tagged: Sunny DeolMUMBAI, (IANS)Sunny Deol ,known as an ac-t ion hero inBollywood, saysgetting tagged inthe film industryis common andthat actors can'trun away from it."Everybody gets atag in this industry.That's how it is. Anactor can't runaway from getting tagged. It is a battle for each and every actor.People did start calling me an action hero. But having said that, as anactor we can only try and do various roles," Sunny told reporters in agroup interview. He will next be seen on the big screen in the action-dramafilm "Ghayal Once Again" along with Soha Ali Khan. Talking about hisfitness mantra, he said: "I have never attended any parties. I used to attendearlier... I don't enjoy partying so, I stopped going."

Fawad Khan joins InstagramMUMBAI, (IANS) Pakistani actor Fawad Khan might not beaddicted to Twitter and Facebook like most of the celebrities,but he still decided to join the image-sharing site Instagram.Fawad was welcomed on Instagram by his "Kapoor And Sons"co-stars Sidhar th Malhotra and Alia Bhatt."Welcome my bro fawadkhan81 to the Instagram world, morepower and love #kapoorandsons," Sidhar th posted on Twitteron Thursday. Alia also posted on the micro-blogging site say-ing: "And the other Kapoor is finally on Instagram! Followfawadkhan81 #KapoorAndSons #PromotionsBegin@S1dhar thM." He hogged the limelight in India when he ap-peared in the 2014 film "Khoobsurat". He even received theFilmfare Award for Best Male Debut.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui 'amazed'by Big B's 'TE3N' roleMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he is "trulyamazed" by megastar Amitabh Bachchan's per formance inthe upcoming film "TE3N" and feels this is the reason why heis called "the best". Nawazuddin, who will be seen alongsideAmitabh and Vidya Balan in the Ribhu Dasgupta directorial,took to Twitter on Thursday to share his experience of workingwith the "Piku" actor."Truly amazed by the character played by #SrBachchan in#Te3n. This is the reason we regard you as the best#respect#motivation," Nawazuddin, best known for his roles in filmslike "Gangs of Wasseypur", "The Lunchbox", "Kick" and "Manjhi- The Mountain Man", said in a statement. Produced by SujoyGhosh, the film is currently being shot in Kolkata.

Shraddha to shoot 'Half Girlfriend'after 'Baaghi', 'Rock On 2'MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor willshoot for "Half Girlfriend" and the remake of "O KandhalKanmani" after she finishes the shooting of "Baaghi" and "RockOn 2". "I'm very excited to be working on 'Half Girlfriend' andthe 'Ok Kanmani' remake', I'll star t shooting for them after'Baaghi' and 'Rock On'," Shraddha said at the launch of photog-rapher Dabboo Ratnani's calendar.Arjun Kapoor has been finalized to star opposite Shraddhain the adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's "Half Girlfriend", to bedirected by her "Ek Vil lain" director Mohit Suri. Earl ier,Sushant Singh Rajput was set to star in it but he backed outdue to date issues. The names of actresses Alia Bhatt andKriti Sanon were being discussed, but it was Shraddha whobagged the role.The remake of Mani Ratnam's Tamil film "O Kandhal Kanmani"will be helmed by "Saathiya" director Shaad Ali and willreunite her with rumoured real-life love Aditya Roy Kapurafter their blockbuster "Aashiqui 2". Karan Johar's DharmaProductions will produce the film and it will have music bymaestro A.R. Rahman. Shraddha, who had shown her danc-ing skills in "ABCD 2", will display her singing skills in "RockOn 2" and "Baaghi", which sees her reuniting with school friendTiger Shroff.

Darsheel inspired by AamirKhan's characterMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Darsheel Safary, who will be seenromancing a girl on a TV show, says he drew inspirationfrom superstar Aamir Khan's character from "Qayamat Se QayamatTak". "I drew inspiration from Aamir uncle's character from 'Qayamat SeQayamat Tak'. My career in the industry so far has been shaped by him.He is my mentor. My dream is to do more films with him as I look up tohim," Darsheel said in a statement. The 18-year-old actor will be seenessaying the role of a teenager, whois in love with his childhood friendand would go to any extent to im-press her on the show "Sun YaarTry Maar". It will be aired on Bindaaschannel on Sunday.Asked whether he is still in touchwith Aamir, Darsheel said: "Yes! I'mvery much in touch with Aamiruncle. I keep taking advice fromhim as to what roles I shoulddo and what I shouldn' t . "Darsheel wooed the audiencewith his exemplary performance in Aamir's 2007 film "TaareZameen Par".

B-Town comes out in support of Kiku ShardaMUMBAI, (IANS) "Wrong", "absurd" and "insane" are some of thewords that Bollywood celebrities like Rishi Kapoor, Boman Irani, AnuragKashyap and Sonakshi Sinha have used to condemn Haryana Police'sdecision to arrest actor Kiku Sharda following a complaint that hespoofed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Dera Sacha Sauda sect.Kiku, best known for acting in popular TV show "Comedy NightsWith Kapil", was sent to 14 days judicial custody on Wednesdayby a cour t in Haryana's Kaithal town, hours af ter his arrest here.He was released on a surety bond of Rs.1 lakh by the Kaithalcour t later.However, he was arrested again by Haryana Police, this t imefrom Fatehabad district (near Hisar), for the same offence. He islikely to be presented before a Fatehabad cour t on Thursday. Kikuwas accused by sect follower Uday Singh of dressing up likeGurmeet Ram Rahim and mimicking the self-proclaimed godmanin the show "Jashn-E-Ummeed". Outraged by the arrest, here'swhat the celebs tweeted:Rishi Kapoor: See this picture (of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh)! Iwould like to play this rockstar in a film. Let me see who puts me

behind bars? Go Kiku Sharda!Twinkle Khanna: A country where everything is sacred exceptlaughter #KikuShardaBoman Irani: First things first, if the man has sincerely apologisedcould someone please put him out of his misery!!! #kikushardaAnurag Kashyap: Gurmeet Ram Rahim insults the sensibilities ofanyone who is sixth class pass with his MSG films. Why is he notarrested? Really the man who has to call himself 'Insaan' to provehe is maybe a human, is of such weak disposition that he gets acomic arrested.Huma Qureshi: Living in the times where one can get arrested forlaughing, lampooning and imitation. Will I get arrested for tweet-ing next? #outrage.Sonakshi Sinha: Someone imitates god - nothing. Kiku imitatessomeone - gets arrested. This is wrong on so many levels its noteven funny.Sonu Sood: So true. Wakeup India. It's 2016. @kikusharda bro weare with you. #WeStandWithKikuShardaNimrat Kaur : So a professional comedian can be ja i led for

recognising an unintentional one. No laughing matter.Mini Mathur: The agenda is to systemically silence all opin-ion and free speech. So no one can question anything any-more. Can't everyone see it? #KikuSharda.

Karan Wahi: I think it's high time we stop thinking that Indiais a country of just the snake charmers still. @kikusharda

we are with you. #KikuSharda.Ranvir Shorey: This is absurd! Haryana police whisks

@kikusharda away overnight to Haryana from astudio in Mumbai. On what basis was sucha warrant issued? Only a cour t in Haryanawould want a comedian in custody, andcriminals as law makers! @kikushardaisn't the one who should be in jail! Theseare the 'Babas' of our times. Selling them-

selves as action heroes, while gettingcomedians put behind bars. This is

'Ghor Kalyug'!Rahul Mahajan: #Asaram key wit-ness gets kil led or go missing,Ram Rahim using f i lms to domoney laundry. And who getsarrested @kikusharda.Sophie Choudry: This is in-sane! We have really lost theability to laugh at ourselves.

Hope you ok @kikusharda.

MIDWEEK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AKSHAY KUMARHard work gets you nowhere; you need to push way beyond

hard work to survive in this industry: Akshay KumarCONTD. FROM PAGE 17A story so true that it makes you love your country even when you haveforgotten how to!!Q3. To be released on January 22, what should audience expect from it?Some salient features of the movie...Ans - The story itself is worth being told, that's what makes me want toshow our people, it is something to be so proud of, to the point it should be'compulsory in history', taught in all our schools. This isn't a fable to beenjoyed, this is a heroic common man endeavour, (which is why it prob-ably hasn't been over dramatized by media or by the government,) be-cause it took average men with hearts of gold to accomplish the safety of170,000 Indians in the biggest air evacuation of all time. Rather than aheroic mission planned by our forces, it was a common man's prob-lem and it took common men and their wives to fix it…Q4. How many of your films are in the pipeline during 2016? Anyother exciting projects such as Airlift...Ans - First there will be Airlift coming out on January 22, followed byHousefull 3 and Rustom which I can't wait to star t filming. But mybiggest project of the year will be shooting for Robot 2.0 (my excite-ment is unimaginable right now)Q5. Having played all kinds of roles and paired with some of theleading ladies in Bollywood, what else do you wish to achieve? Anyfavourite director or actress you wish to work with?Ans - I'm very excited to work with Rajinikanth ji in 'Robot 2'. I can't

say much about the film at the moment. This film is without doubtgonna blow people's minds, it's already blown mine and I've onlybeen for my wake up test :0). I would love to make a film on the life ofBruce Lee. Bruce Lee inspired my life to the point that I feel I wouldhave never existed if he hadn't been for him and all his inspiration.Q6. Known to be a protective father as you have kept you kids awayfrom media, do you think any of your kids would like to pursue thiscareer?Ans - It's totally up to them for what they want to do in future. Rightnow I just want them to concentrate on their studies.Q7. Due to a cut-throat competition in Bollywood, only few withconnections or part of a certain lobby succeed. Do you believe it istrue?Ans - I truly believe great things can happen to anyone that genuinelyworks hard. My career isn't all about luck. I've worked really hard evenon the days I thought I couldn't get out of bed. I've got my mental tough-ness thanks to martial arts and also thanks to my family. Balancing workand family is something that all men must conquer and conquer well, it'sdefinitely the key to my success.Q8. Anything you wish to add on for new comers in this industry.Ans - Keep an open mind in this profession, never say no until you haveread a script and be prepared to put all your energy and soul into the roleyou are playing. Hard work gets you nowhere; you need to push waybeyond hard work if you want to survive in this industry…



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 b o l l y w o o d

hollywood

CHARLIE SHEEN ISN'T 'CUTOUT' FOR MARRIAGELOS ANGELES, (IANS) Actor Charlie Sheen doesn't think heis "good" at being a husband. "(My addiction) didn't help. Idon't know that I'm cut out for marriage to begin with. I'm 0-for-3. I'm just not good at it. I have amazing children as aresult. I don't regret that for one second," Sheen said."Denise and Brooke, they're doing the best that they can andthey're both terrific mothers and, we don't always get along,"he added. The 50-year-old actor was diagnosed as HIV Posi-tive four years ago and says the news has brought himcloser to his father Mar tin Sheen, repor ts femalefirst.co.uk.In the second par t of his sit-down interview with Dr.Oz,Sheen said: "I don't want to say it's specifically changed ourrelationship but something happened with he and I. We aresuch better friends than we've ever been. "We don't judgeeach other. (It's) nothing but fun when we hang out. We don'tagree on everything, obviously. I mean what son and fatherdo? He's a special cat. And I'm really lucky to have him."

WILL MARRY WHEN THETIME IS RIGHT: DICAPRIOLOS ANGELES, (IANS)Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCapriosays he is happy with his friends and family at the moment,and will consider marriage when the time is right. "TheRevenant" actor has dated celebrities like Kelly Rohrbach, ToniGarrn, Gisele Bundchen and Bar Refaeli, but says he doesn't planthings like marriage, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "I'm very hesitantto talk about anything on that sort of personal level. I have awonderful family and friends that I'm enjoying life with, and I willsay that I am very happy. As for anything more - the time will beright when it's going to be right. There's no way to plan thesethings," Hello magazine quoted the 41-year-old as saying.

JOHN LEGEND INSPIRED BYAISHWARYA RAI'S 'CHARISMA'MUMBAI, (IANS) International singer John Legend, who hasworked on a song for an ad campaign featuring AishwaryaRai Bachchan and Eva Longoria, is mesmerised by the In-dian beauty and former Miss World. The two actresses,both L'Oreal Paris ambassadors, share a great camarade-rie, and are par t of a campaign that the brand will be launch-ing soon in India. The video for the campaign is based onLegend's version of a famous French song, and features the twolooking pretty in pink. While shooting for the campaign, Legend wassmitten by their presence. Sharing his experience of working withAishwarya, he said in a statement: "Having the chance to singsuch beautiful words to one of the most beautiful and talentedwomen in the world is all that I could ask for. "She embodiesbeauty and love and I couldn't have been more inspired by her cha-risma." Aishwarya, who made her comeback to filmdom last yearwith "Jazbaa", has movies like "Sarbjit" and "Ae Dil HaiMushkil" next up for her fans.

Delhi Deputy CM watches Chalk N Duster

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiawatched the Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla-starrer "Chalk N Duster",based on the commercialisation of education in India, at a specialscreening of the Jayant Gilatar directorial recently. The 65-year-oldactress took to Twitter, where she "thanked" Sisodia for appreciatingthe film. "With @msisodia Dep CM Del producer Amin Surani at 'Chalk

n Duster' screening today (Sunday). Thank you for your appreciation,"Shabana tweeted recently. The "Ar th" actress also shared a photo-graph of herself along with Sisodia and Surani. "Chalk N Duster"also features Divya Dutta, Girish Karnad, Richa Chadha, ZarinaWahab, Aarya Babbar, Jackie Shroff, and Samir Soni. It's slated torelease on January 15.

Hrithik Roshan, Sonam Kapoor to endorse mobile phone brandNEW DELHI, (IANS) Bollywood actors Sonam Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan have been roped in as the South Asia region brandambassadors for mobile phone brand OPPO. The actors have been a par t of the brand's India journey since 2014. Hrithik saidin a statement: "I am proud of the brand's growth in India and am very excited to be a par t of yet another successful innings ofthe brand in India in 2016." Sonam said: "I am pleased to be associated with OPPO which caters to the consumers withexceptional products." OPPO is a global technology brand dedicated to providing consumers across America, Africa, Europe,Oceania and Asia with its products. "Both Hrithik and Sonam are youth icons and are looked up to for their style and attitude,which is completely in tune with our brand philosophy, which is about young at hear t and pursuing for perfection, and always bea trendsetter," said Sky Li, vice president, OPPO, and managing director of International Mobile Business.

Jewellery, make-up helped Purab Kohli in 'Airlift' roleMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Purab Kohli, who will be seen in the for thcoming film "Airlift", says jewellery and make-up helped him to getinto the his character in the film. Purab will be seen spor ting a rugged look for his role as Ibrahim Durani, a small town manfrom India who works in the Middle East."The jewellery of Ibrahim in 'Airlif t' is an integral par t of his character - the rings, even the kajal (kohl) under his eye and mostimpor tantly the taaveez (amulet) that he wore... Just wearing all these elements helped me lots to get into the character,"Purab said in a statement. The actor credited his make-up ar tist for getting one of the jewellery element on the "right level"."The 'taaveez' par ticularly took up a lot of time, because just getting it on the right level was impor tant. My make-up ar tist Rajwas responsible to make sure it was tied at the same level and used to mark it everyday as that is where it goes," he said."Airlift" is inspired by the evacuation of Indians who were based in Kuwait during the Iraq-Kuwait war and stars Akshay Kumarand Nimrat Kaur in key roles. It will release on January 22.



Movie Review

b o l l y w o o d

'CHALK N DUSTER': MAWKISHLYEXECUTED YET INSPIRATIONAL

BY TROY RIBEIROTERE BIN WAZIR

SANAM RE SANAM RE

SOCH NA SAKE AIRLIFT

TU MERE PAAS WAZIR

WAJAH TUM HO HATE STORY 3

GERUA DILWALE

JANAM JANAM DILWALE

TU ISAQ MERA HATE STORY 3

NEENDEIN KHUL JAATI HEIN HATE STORY 3

HIT OR FLOP MIDWEEKDILWALE BLOCKBUSTERBAJIRAO MASTANI BLOCKBUSTERHATE STORY 3 HITWAZIR HITCHALK N DUSTER FAIR

MIDWEEK BOX

OFFICE REPORTBAJIRAO MASTANI 208 CR

DILWALE 200 CR

HATE STORY 3 110 CR

WAZIR 40 CR

CHALK N DUSTER 3 CR

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FILM

WAZIR

FILM:ATRANGI YAARI1

CAST: SHABANA AZMI, GIRISH KARNAD, JUHI

CHAWLA, UPASANA SINGH, DIVYA DUTTA, ARYA

BABBAR AND RISHI KAPOOR

DIRECTOR: JAYANT GILATKAR

RATING: ***

Jayant Gilatkar's "Chalk n Duster" honestly and compassion-ately reflects our deteriorating education system, albeit in astraight, on-the-face and old fashioned manner. Despite beingmawkishly executed, it is inspirational. It is the story of theincredible teachers of Incredible India. With the premise,"keep education as education and not as business", the plotdelves into the trials and tribulations of the teachers atKantaben High School, who are being subjected to theunwarranted harassment by their over tly insensitive manage-ment, in their bid to make their school numero uno.While the treatment is overdramatic and exaggerated, com-paring tradition with modernity, the messages hit the rightnerve. It especially hits you, when you hear Science teacherJyoti (Juhi Chawla) speak directly to the audience, "Can youimagine what the world would be like without teachers?"The screenplay is taut and engaging despite the cliches. Itblends the teachers' professional lives with their domesticone, in ample measure, especially that of the senior math-ematics teacher, Vidhya Sawant essayed by Shabana Azmiand that of her younger colleague Jyoti. The per formance bythe ace star cast is what keeps you hooked. With her power-ful screen presence and brilliant histrionics Shabana Azmi asthe mature and lovable Vidhya Ma'am, is adorable.Juhi Chawla, in a well-etched character packed with lightcomic, as well as serious moments, suppor ts Shabana,

literally and figuratively. She is sincere and natural but doesnot offer any new shade to her character or per formance. Thesurprise package is Divya Dutta, who holds her own andexcels as the antagonist Kamini Gupta, the school's principal.Her horrendous wig adds to her thick-headed persona.Of the male cast, Arya Babbar as Anmol Parekh the pea-brained foreign returned MBA whose family controls theschool, suppor ting Kamini in her endeavour, is passive andstereotypical. Girish Karnad as Vidhya's wheel boundhusband who is fond of playing chess and Sameer Soniplaying Jyoti's husband, are per functory. These flat, one-dimensional characters who let their spouses flourish areunderdeveloped.Of the rest of the suppor ting cast, Upasana Singh as the Ar tsteacher Manjeet and Richa Chadha as Bhairavi Thakkar, theIndia News Repor ter, are wasted. And Rishi Kapoor andJackie Shroff in guest appearances are reduced to carica-tures. This modest subject is well mounted. The film boastsof a decent production set-up. The annual day function withthe well choreographed dances and brilliant lighting is wor tha mention.The background score at times is so overpowering that itdrowns the dialogues, but never theless the message is loudand clear. Cinematically this may not be a brilliant film, but ithas its hear t in the right place as there is never an instancewhen a teacher may not have tugged your emotional chord. Amust-watch film for all those who have been to school.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 b o l l y w o o d

JUHI CHAWLA, SAMIR SONI AND DIVYA DUTTA DURING THE SCREENING OF FILM CHALK N DUSTER IN MUMBAI (IANS).

ALI ZAFAR PLAYING SPECIAL ROLEIN 'TERE BIN LADEN: DEAD OR ALIVE'MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Ali Zafar, who played the lead role in "Tere BinLaden", will be seen in a special role in its sequel "Tere Bin Laden:Dead Or Alive"."The journey of the character of Ali from the first film has been com-pleted and this film is about the character of Sharma (played by ManishPaul). And in the film Ali has a very special role. When you'll watchthe film, you'll understand why he couldn't do the main role," saidAbhishek Sharma, the director of both films at the trailer launch onTuesday."I think the trailer has given enough hint out there if you can see it.Only Ali Zafar could've played this special role and I don't think hecould've played what Manish is playing. The answer lies in the filmonce you see it - when you see it you will not miss Ali Zafar since he'sbrilliant in this film as well," he added.Manish said that the first time he had met Sharma it was for a differ-ent film in a small role and the latter had advised him to also be thelead in "Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive". Surprisingly the earlier filmwasn't made but this film is all ready to release.Ali's character from the first par t was a journalist who badly wantedto go to America, but this time, the main character played by Manishis an aspiring filmmaker from Delhi's Chandni Chowk, who wants tomake a big film and not fry jalebis with his father. "How he strugglesand lands up in Mumbai, star ts the film, makes the film, and what allthings happen is what you'll see coming together in the film," saidManish.

"I'm very excited because every person wants to do a film and I havereceived this oppor tunity to be a part of such a big film. We're readywith the film and I'm damn sure that people will like the film," headded. The film is releasing on February 19 and also stars PradhumanSingh, Piyush Mishra and Sikandar.

FARHAN AKHTAR TO PERFORMAT 'U/A' FESTIVAL IN DELHI

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Come February and Bollywood's talent houseFarhan Akhtar, American rock band Boyce Avenue, members of stand-up comedy group All India Bakchod (AIB) Tanmay Bhat and AbishMathew will head here to spread a wave of fun through 'U/A' festival.Only Much Louder, the creators of some of India's most loved festi-vals like BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender and Stage42, promises to bring acomplete enter tainer for fans of all ages. Titled 'U/A', the festivalfeatures diverse mix of experiences - music and comedy per for-mances, a range of carefully picked exciting activities and speciallycrafted immersive experiences, read a statement.The first edition of the two-day festival will begin in the national capi-tal on February 13, and will treat visitors to workshops like ukuleleplaying and 3D Printing to activities such as poi play, hula hoop,slacklining, Nitrogen science labs and the magical floating market.

Other performers include Biswa Kalyan Rath, a stand-up comedianand co-host of YouTube comedy series 'Pretentious Movie Reviews',and Anuvab Pal, another stand-up comedian, among others. VijayNair, CEO of Only Much Louder, said: "The options for quality enter-tainment in the country for people outside the 'youth marketing' demo-graphic are very limited. U/A is an attempt to fill in this gap with anall-encompassing festival that has something for literally everyone."With this one, we will go beyond just music and comedy to create amore interactive and immersive experience, one that we hope willresonate with fans even after the festival is over." The festival fea-tures six curated zones - The big stage, creator's corner, U/A lab, theplayground, the magical floating market and food and flea bazaar. Thetickets are available on Insider.in at Rs.1500, and children below 10years and for grown-ups above 60 years, entry is free.

AAMIR DOESN'T INTERFERE,HE INVOLVES HIMSELF:RAJKUMAR HIRANIMUMBAI, (IANS) Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who hasworked with well known stars in all his films, says he hasnever faced any interference from them. He is especially allpraise for Aamir Khan. "When I worked with Aamir Khan forthe first time, I had heard that he inter feres. But when westar ted working together, I realised that he gets involved inhis films and doesn't interfere. That's the best par t of Aamir."We all want to make the best films, so we do take sugges-tions from everyone. I have had a great time working witheveryone," Hirani, who has worked with Aamir in "3 Idiots"and "PK", said here. Hirani is currently busy promoting hisnew production "Saala Khadoos", which is about boxers. Thefilmmaker feels that unlike the West, in India there's a lack ofimpor tance given to spor ts."In India, education gets so much of impor tance that we side-track spor ts... it's very wrong. In other countries, people dogive impor tance to spor ts. The more we are into spor ts, themore we will be fit and if you are physically fit, you are able toface life far more better. Every spor t should get the limelightbecause they deserve it.""Saala Khadoos", co-produced by Rajkumar Hirani Films andTricolour Films in association with UTV Motion Pictures, fea-tures R. Madhavan as a retired boxer who relentlessly pusheshis protege to overcome obstacles and achieve her goals.

GETTING TYPECAST MEANSYOU'RE ACCEPTED:TUSSHAR KAPOORMUMBAI, (IANS) Tusshar Kapoor doesn't mind being taggedas an actor who mostly dabbles in adult comedies. Hesays when a person is typecast, it means there's accep-tance for his talent.Asked if it bothers him when people tag him as an actor ofadult comedies, Tusshar said: "I am happy... at the end of theday, people should like you. If you get typecast, then I thinkit's a branding... it means you have got acceptance in onekind of a role. "That is the main reward that an actor can get...that the audience will buy tickets to see your film. So, I amokay with it."Tusshar has been par t of adult comedies including "Kyaa KoolHain Hum" and "Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum". However, onefilm that he's truly proud of is the comedy film "Golmaal"."I am most proud of my film 'Golmaal'. I was wonderingwhether in four heroes, will my character stand out? Butthat role changed my career. So, I am very grateful to thatfilm," he said.The actor will now be seen in two back-to-back adult comedyfilms, including "Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3" and "Mastizaade".He said the audience will be able to distinguish betweenboth the films. "Both the films are very different from eachother," he said.

'MANMARZIYAN' SHOOTINGTO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY:AYUSHMANN KHURRANAMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says he hasalready star ted growing his beard for his film "Manmarziyan',which will be shot in Punjab from February. "In 'Manmarziyan',I'm playing a Punjabi, so I've grown a beard for it. The film isgoing to star t in February," said Ayushmann on the last day ofthe Khidkiyaan festival where he sang many of his hit songs."I'm shooting in Punjab for the first time. In 'Vicky Donor', hewas a Punjabi from Delhi, but here he is a proper Punjabi.There is no 'Dillipan' in this, it has full 'Punjabiyat' in the film,and it is a proper romance from the soil of Punjab," he added.The film stars his "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" co-star BhumiPednekar and will be directed by Sameer Sharma, who hadpreviously directed "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana". It willbe produced by "Tanu Weds Manu Returns" director Anand L.Rai. Bhumi who played an overweight character in her debutfilm, has shed all the excess weight for the film, as seen innumerous award shows this year. She also is learning Punjabi.The film will also have a second male lead, for which the huntis currently on. Music is by Amit Trivedi. Ayushmann waslast seen in the single "Yahin Hoon Main" which was sung aswell as co-composed by him.

WOULD LOVE TO BE INCREDIBLEINDIA AMBASSADOR: AKSHAYNEW DELHI, (IANS) Actor Akshay Kumar, who has been apar t of the enter tainment industry for almost three decades,says he would love to be the brand ambassador of the tour-ism ministry's Incredible India campaign.Since Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is no longer frontingthe ads of the government campaign, there has been a lot ofspeculation as to who would replace him. Amitabh Bachchan,Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and Akshay are amongthe names floating around to be the face of the campaign.Asked if he would like to be the new Incredible India ambas-sador, Akshay said: "It's a big thing. Why not? I would love tobe there. It's a good thing". The "Khiladi" star was here onMonday to promote his for thcoming film "Airlift", which haspatriotism at its core. Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, "Air-lift" is based on the evacuation of Kuwait-based Indians dur-ing the Iraqi occupation in 1990. Akshay plays the crucialcharacter of Ranjit Katyal who was an unsung hero in aidingthe evacuation process. "India is the greatest country - that iswhat we want to show in this film. 'Airlift' means air evacua-tion. The film shows how 1,70,000 people were evacuatedfrom one place to other," the actor said.

Nawazuddin files cross-FIR against five people over 'false allegation'MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui on Monday filed a cross-FIR against five people following a woman's complaint thathe pushed her and behaved inappropriately during a dispute over parking space. The National Award-winning actor says it is afalse allegation.A woman named Heena Sheikh filed the complaint at the Versova police station on Sunday against the "Manjhi: The MountainMan" actor claiming that he misbehaved with her. In her complaint, Heena, 24, daughter of Soni Dandekar, the chairman of ZohraAghadi Nagar housing society at Yari Road, also claimed she was manhandled by Nawazuddin's bodyguards. However, Nawazuddinhas denied that he knows the woman."I have come to know that there is a girl named Heena Sheikh who has put this assault allegation on me. Even I'm not aware whoshe is or if she stays in the society or not, or where she stays. It is a false allegation that has been put on me," Nawazuddin toldrepor ters here while talking about the issue outside the Versova police station on Monday. Nawazuddin, who recorded hisstatement at the police station, said there was no notice sent to him. He even denied having visited the police station for bail,saying "there was no need for bail"."The police didn't summon us, but being a responsible citizen, I came here along with my lawyer and recorded my statementabout how false the allegation is. And we have stated what the actual incident was." He said he wants the "false charge" on himto be removed as he had put in his money to clean up the area in front of his office premises."We had built it as numerous people come to meet us and they should find it clean. Earlier, it was very dir ty. The society memberseven appreciated me for the same… All the society members are with us. All want the false charge on me to be removed," hesaid. When asked if he was being maligned for monetary reasons, the National Award winner said: "There are several reasonsand it's there in it (statement)."Talking about the incident, Nawazuddin's manager said that two men and three women barged into the actor's office here onSunday to meet him and give him a notice to vacate the area in front of his office. However, since Nawaz never claimed that the area washis, there was no question of vacating it, said the manager. Nawazuddin's lawyer said the matter is in the investigation stage.

Australia beat India in 3rd ODI to clinch seriesHOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE CAPTAINS DURING A PROGRAMME ORGANISED TO UNVEIL THE HIL 2016 TROPHY IN NEW DELHI (IANS).

DUBAI, (IANS) England fast bowler Stuart Broad replaced India'sRavichandran Ashwin on Sunday as the top ranked bowler inTests following his superb performance against South Africa.Broad produced a Man of the Match performance against SouthAfrica in the third Test at Johannesburg on Saturday, taking 6-17to skittle the hosts out for just 83 runs in the second innings forEngland to win by seven wickets.England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match seriesthat also confirmed that India will replace South Africa as thetop-ranked Test side, the International Cricket Council (ICC) saidin a statement. Broad entered the Johannesburg Test in the thirdposition on 853 points but, after figures of two for 82 and six for17, the 29-year-old earned 27 points to leapfrog Ashwin andSouth Africa's Dale Steyn into the top position. Broad now sitson 880 points and leads the India spinner by nine points. Steynis third with 850 points.Broad is the first England bowler since Steve Harmison to topthe Test bowlers rankings. Harmison had reached the top in2004 and stayed there for 120 days. Before Harmison, IanBotham had achieved the number-one ranking in 1980. Broadhas gained four places after earning 40 points since arriving inSouth Africa as he has picked up 15 wickets in three Tests todate. Ravindra Jadeja is the other Indian in the top 10, retaininghis sixth spot with 789 points.In the Test batting rankings, Ajinkya Rahane retained his joint10th spot he shares with Australia's Adam Voges, with 753 points.The list continues to be topped by Australia's Steve Smith with899. Ashwin continues to lead the all-rounders rankings with406 points while Jadeja remains at fifth with 259.

MELBOURNE, (IANS) Australia dominated with both bat and ball to defeat India bythree wickets in the third One-Day International (ODI) at the Melbourne CricketGround (MCG) here on Sunday. Pacer John Hastings returned figures of 4/58 asIndia posted 295/6 after being asked to bat first. Glenn Maxwell (96) and ShaunMarsh (62) then spearheaded the run chase as Australia claimed victory withseven balls to spare. The hosts have now taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-ODI series. Australia had won the first two matches by five and seven wicketsrespectively. The Indians have now lost three of their last four ODI series since theWorld Cup in Australia last year. This is their third consecutive series loss. Theyearlier conceded an away series in Bangladesh and went down to South Africa athome. As in the earlier matches in this series, the visitors were let down by thebowlers despite putting up a big total. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/49) andpacer Ishant Sharma (2/53) claimed two wickets each. But the overall standard ofthe visitors' bowling was not enough to pose a serious challenge to the Australianbatsmen. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav claimed an early wicket when Aaron Finch(21) edged him to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the wicket. But thevisitors' joy proved to be short-lived as Marsh and Australian skipper Steven Smith(41) brought the hosts back on track with a 64-run stand.

Jadeja struck in his very first over after coming on in the 19th over when Smithmistimed a slower ball to offer an easy edge to Ajinkya Rahane at first slip. Thatsaw the Australian run rate go down a notch and Jadeja gave the Indians a glimmerof hope when he got rid of George Bailey (23) thanks to some nice work behind thestumps by Dhoni. When Ishant sent back Marsh a couple of overs later, the Indiansheld the upper hand with the Australian score reading 167/4.But Maxwell strode in to turn things around for the hosts, stroking eight boundariesand three sixes during his 83-ball knock. James Faulkner (21) gave him steadysupport at the other end. By the time Maxwell offered a top edge to Shikhar Dhawanat long-off while trying to smash a Yadav delivery out of the ground, it was all overfor the visitors. Earlier, Virat Kohli led the way with a century as India posted 295/6 after being asked to bat first by the hosts. Kohli scored 117 runs off an equalnumber of deliveries before falling to aslower one from pacer John Hastings.He smashed seven boundaries and acouple of sixes during his innings.Ajinkya Rahane (50) also did well, scor-ing a half-century.

Broad topples Ashwin to takebowling top spot in Tests

U-19 colts to play theirsecond cricket World Cup

HINGIS OF SWITZERLAND (L) AND MIRZA OF INDIA ARE AT PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE MATCH IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. THEDUO CLINCHED THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL TITLE AT THE KEN ROSEWALL ARENA HERE ON FRIDAY (IANS).

DUBAI, (IANS) The 11th edition of the U-19 cricket World Cup, to beheld in four cities in Bangladesh from January 27 to February 14, willsee 18 players making their second appearance in the prestigioustournament. The tourney will feature nine Test-playing nations andseven Associate and Affiliate members -- Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji,Ireland, Namibia, Nepal and Scotland.Bangladesh's Mehidy Hassan Miraz enjoys the rare distinction ofcaptaining his nation in both the 2014 and 2016 events. Mehidy, whocelebrated his 18th bir thday in October last year, had not turned 16when he led the team in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2014.Besides Mehidy, the hosts have four other players with previous ex-perience of having taken par t in the spor t's premier age-group tourna-ment. They are Najmul Hossain, Joyraj Sheik, Zakir Hasan and SaeedSarker.Mehidy was confident that Bangladesh, which finished ninth in 2014,will be a force to reckon with on home soil. "The fact that many of ushave been in the under-19 team for more than two years means thatwe are fairly experienced at this level," the Bangladesh captain saidin an International Cricket Council (ICC) release on Thursday."We pretty much have the same set of coaches and team manage-ment who understand our needs." Three-time former champions In-dia have in its ranks Sarfaraz Khan, Ricky Bhui and Avesh Khan, who

helped their team finish fif th in the UAE edition. Sarfaraz insisted thathe had unfinished business at hand in Bangladesh."Our hopes of defending the title in 2014 were dashed when we lost toEngland in the quar ter-finals," the batsman said. "That really hur tsand we are determined to go all the way this time. It helps to haveplayed at the senior level in domestic cricket but I can't be compla-cent about that. We will be competing against the world's best juniorplayers in Bangladesh. I just want to do well and help my team win."Afghanistan have retained four members of the squad that finishedseventh in 2014. They are Ihsanullah Janat -- who is now the captain,Muslim Musa, Waheed Shafaq and Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar. AbraashKhan of Canada, Shimron Hetmyer of the West Indies and NewZealand's Josh Finnie will return as captains of their respective teamshoping to better the 2014 performances where the West Indies fin-ished sixth, New Zealand 10th and Canada 15th.Namibia's squad includes two members of their 2014 squad that fin-ished 14th with Zane Green taking over as captain and S.J. loftie-Eaton, a key member of the side. Ryan Brown is the only Scotlandplayer making his second appearance in the tournament. He playedjust one match in 2014 where he took two wickets for 18 runs. Nepaland Ireland did not qualify in 2014, while Fiji is the only newcomer tothe event.

ADELAIDE TO HOST FIRST BBL SEMIFINALMELBOURNE, (IANS) Adelaide will host the first Big Bash League (BBL) semifinal on January 21 regardless of finishing at first or secondplace in the standings. Adelaide Strikers' last-gasp win over the Hobar t Hurricanes on Wednesday night at the Adelaide Oval cementedthe Strikers a top-2 spot and, therefore, the right to host a home semifinal.Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the semifinal scheduling given considerations around the BBL final weekend taking place at the sametime as the final stage of the Tour Down Under bicycle event in Adelaide. "We have decided to schedule the Strikers home semifinal onJanuary 21, irrespective of whether they finish the regular season first or second on the ladder," BBL head Anthony Everard said onThursday."The suppor t from the Adelaide public for their BBL club has been magnificent, including selling out their last three home matches. Lastseason the Strikers also set the then-BBL attendance record when they hosted their semifinal against the Sydney Sixers at AdelaideOval." The other BBL clubs in contention to host the other semifinal have been suppor tive of this decision.

SEHWAG TEACHES WWE SUPERSTARS HOW TO BAT!NEW DELHI, (IANS) Assisted by his two children Aryavir and Vedant, Indian batting great Virender Sehwag on Friday shared a couple oftips about the techniques of batting, bowling and catching with his eager World Wrestling Enter tainment (WWE) pupils -- Dolph Zigglerand Charlotte. The professional wrestling stars are here to participate in WWE Live India event at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium onFriday and Saturday. Both Dolph and Charlotte got to bat against the former right-arm off-spinner. They also had the chance to bowl atSehwag, who showed restrain and resisted showing his legendary aggressive approach of smashing the ball over the boundary."That was an awesome experience and we're grateful to Virender for giving us our first taste of playing cricket," said Dolph. WWE LiveIndia will see Dolph and Charlotte join other stars, including world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns, Big Show, Demon Kane, andmany more, at the IGI Stadium. WWE fans will see history being made as former World Kabaddi League champion Lovepreet Singh andtwo-time Kushti national heavyweight champion Satinder Del Pal make their WWE in-ring debuts in their home nation.

PACER AMIR BOOED ONINTERNATIONAL RETURNAUCKLAND, (IANS) Mohammad Amir's return to internationalcricket after a five-year gap was not a happy one as thecontroversial Pakistan pacer was booed by the crowd dur-ing the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against New Zealandhere on Friday.The 23-year-old was making his first appearance for Pakistansince returning from a five-year ban for being implicated in aspot-fixing scandal in 2010. The left-arm pacer from GujarKhan, Pakistan, opened the bowling and claimed the wicketof lower-order batsman Matt Henry, returning figures of 1/31from his four overs.Amir was at the centre of a spot fixing controversy in August2010 when he was convicted for bowling deliberate no-ballsduring a Test match against England at Lord's. He was subse-quently jailed for three months in November 2011 along withtwo other Pakistan players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.His suspension originally covered all forms of the game but hewas cleared to play domestic cricket in Pakistan in January2015. Amir, however, is facing several restrictions during thecurrent tour. He is not allowed to leave his hotel and meetanyone without the prior permission of the Pakistan CricketBoard (PCB). Batting first, Pakistan posted a total of 171/8 at theEden Park, and then dismissed the Kiwis for 155 runs.

India to host two ITF juniortournaments allotted to PakistanKOLKATA, (IANS) New Delhi would this year be hosting twojunior championships of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)earlier allotted to Pakistan, an All India Tennis Association(AITA) official said. The tournaments were shifted after Paki-stan requested AITA to help them organise the events in NewDelhi in July or August as it would give budding tennis talentfrom Pakistan an oppor tunity to feature in the tournaments."People find it unsafe to go to Pakistan. So we will hold two ITFtournaments allotted to Pakistan in our country," AITA executivecommittee member Hironmoy Chatterjee told IANS. "They haverequested us to do that. Depriving the tennis-loving youngstersin Pakistan is not good. They can come here and play in the twotournaments," said Chatterjee.

Delhi Acers clinch PBL titleNEW DELHI, (IANS) Exactly the way they played the entire six-team tournament, the Delhi Acers came up with a solid teamperformance to beat the Mumbai Rockets 4-3 at the Siri For tSpor ts Complex here on Sunday and clinch the Premier Bad-minton League (PBL) title.The Acers, who topped the league phase with 20 points, re-mained the only team in the entire for tnight long tourney whichdid not lose its Trump Match. The Delhi-based team, who losttheir opening two ties of the event, fought back strongly to winthe next five ties to clinch the coveted trophy, beating the Rock-ets, whom they had thrashed 5-0 during the league phase.The Acers though star ted on a losing note as their mixed doublespair of Akshay Dewalkar and Gabrielle Adcock went down toVladimir Ivanov and Kamilla Rytter Juhl 6-15, 12-15 in 24 min-utes to give the visiting team a 1-0 lead. "The first win was avery good star t for the team. This was a big match and we didn'twant to give any room to the opponents. We star ted with ag-gressive strategies and pushed ourselves hard to win thematch," said Russia's Ivanov.However, Acers' key player Tommy Sugiar to extended his winstreak to six matches as he beat Rockets' H.S. Prannoy 13-15,15-9, 15-9 in 48 minutes in the first men's singles. "It was atough match as it is the final. Prannoy played very well andgave me good competition. Losing the first match was a set-back but I came back with better strategies. Happy to win thematch, it was a big boost for my team," said Sugiar to, whosevictory helped the Acers equalise at 1-all.The experienced Malaysian pair of Koo Keat Kien and Tan BoonHeong then gave the Acers a 2-1 lead with a close victory overIvanov, who returned to the cour t with his men's doubles par t-ner Mathias Boe. Though the Rockets pair saved threematchpoints, the Acers eventually clinched it 14-15, 15-10, 15-14 in 49 minutes. "It was an unbelievable match. We held ournerves till the last moment. We stepped on to the cour t withconfidence to win and had some game-plans for it," said Tan."Though we lost the first game, the second one turned into a bigmotivation for us. We gave everything in the third game andeventually managed to out-fox our opponents." In the crucialTrump Match for the Rockets, Han Li, who defeated World No.2Saina Nehwal in the semifinal on Friday, earned a come-from-behind 12-15, 15-8, 15-8 victory over P.C. Thulasi to put herteam 3-2 ahead.

South Asian Games willenergise Indian youth: SonowalNEW DELHI, (IANS) The 12th South Asian Games will energisethe youth of the country, par ticularly in the nor theastern re-gion, Spor ts Minister and chairman of the Games organisingcommittee Sarbananda Sonowal said here on Sunday. Sonowalwas present at the flagging-off of the torch relay of the Games,which are being hosted by India in Guwahati and Shillong fromFebruary 5-16.The torch relay ceremony of the Games was launched amidmuch fanfare at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium herein the presence of Sonowal and eminent spor ts personalities,including former Indian hockey captain Zafar Iqbal, yesteryears'badminton star Pul le la Gopichand and former womanweightlifter Kunjarani Devi, among others."The South Asian Games are the symbol of the cohesion, peaceand harmony, and spor ts persons are the spor ts ambassadorsof their respective countries. These Games will energise theyouths of the country. This Torch Relay marks the beginning ofthe South Asian Games, 2016," Sonowal was cited in a Spor tsAuthority of India (SAI) release as saying.

FRESHER, BIGGER HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE THIS YEARBHUBANESHWAR, (IANS) New scoring rules encouraging field goals and an equal distribution of Indian talent make the four th Coal IndiaHockey India League (HIL) an exciting contest, beginning with a showdown between Kalinga Lancers and Uttar Pradesh Wizards at theKalinga Stadium here on Monday. Drag-flickers have been prominent in international matches in this century and the HIL organisershave decided to award two points for each field goal this year. Also, to curb rough tackling, two goals will be counted for every goalscored off a penalty stroke that results from a penalty corner when a goal being scored is prevented by a deliberate foul.And the teams have also picked their squads during the September 2015 auction as per the requirements under these changes,preferring not only attackers but also technically sound defenders. However, Ranchi Rays captain Ashley Jackson, himself a drag-flicker, feels the set-piece specialists' roles can not be underestimated."The forwards will enjoy playing with the new rules in play but in that process they may end up earning more number of penalty cornersand and the drag-flickers can't afford to miss out on them as always," Jackson, who captained his side to glory last year, said. "So, I amexcited and eager to see how the rules impact the games. The rules will cer tainly impact the results of the matches and the scorelines,"the Englishman, who has played for Ranchi based teams from the first edition, added.But Indian drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath, who will lead Uttar Pradesh Wizards, said that penalty corner exponents will feel less pressurethis time around. Raghunath's Wizards have not reached final in the past three editions and to do that they have made some crucial buysin the form of German Tobias Hauke, Australian Jamie Dwyer, Akashdeep Singh and Argentine duo of Augustin Mazzilli and GonzaloPeillat. Eddie Ockenden, P.R. Sreejesh, Ramandeep Singh, Wouter Jolie, Chinglensana are some of the other key players of theLucknow-based side. Moreover, with the contracts of players ending in 2015 and some of them being retained, the sides who weresuffering because of less talented Indian players, Dabang Mumbai and Kalinga Lancers have addressed the issue this time. They werenot par t of inaugural edition, thereby unable to pick talents from a wider net.Nikkin Thimmiah, Affan Yousuf, Gurmail Singh are crucial additions to Mumbai, while S.K. Uthappa, Dharamvir Singh, Malak Singh, AmitRohidas will boost Kalinga's chances. Apar t from this, some players in Lancers have grown in stature -- Devindar Singh Walmiki andLalit Upadhyay -- are now par t of the national team.



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